Most days I will be writing... articles, essays, blog posts, and devotions. Coming soon a book. If not writing I may be kayaking, hiking, or paddle boarding. I begin my day with the Word of God and prayer.
Our culture is plan focused. We tend to map out our future, creating calendars for each day, one and five-year plans for all the aspects of life, and even itineraries for vacations.
My days begin as planned. This cold, February morning I built a fire in the woodstove while our Cuisinart coffeemaker ground the beans and perked the coffee. My cup of choice was large, and bowl-shaped, enough to complete one day of homework for the seven-week Bible study I am working on, which is focused on various types of prayer. This week we learn to pray for unity in the church. Then I read the section of the book of Mark and a Psalm that is on my read through the New Testament and Psalms plan for this year. Is this my rhythm or my regimen?
God has slowly been teaching me to write plans in pencil rather than ink. To not be so attached to what I view as my best and trust in Him, the God who intensely, intelligently, wills the best for me. A God who sees me, who knows all things, and has thoughts that are higher than mine.
Several months ago, as I stood in line to pay for purchases at a Christian bookstore, I dropped a tumbled marble square by Twelve Stone Art with these words imprinted: “My Future is in Your Hands.” (Psalm 16:5) I was going to give it to a sister in Christ in need of encouragement but had to gather the pieces and pay for the shattered square. Later I glued it together. It now sits in the window of my study, the cracks clearly visible.
That moment in the bookstore, as the stone artwork broke, the Holy Spirit revealed that I was deceived to think I was trusting God with my future. More accurately I was trusting God to complete the plans I made.
I do want to accomplish certain things in life… my dream of writing a book is not dead. Perhaps this desire to have certain dreams come true was the reason the crash between the Black Hawk helicopter and the commercial airliner in January triggered a state of depression. All those dreams, such as skating in the winter Olympics, ending up at the bottom of the Potomac River.
But again, God spoke. “You have this moment in time,” he said. Tomorrow, next week, or next year is not guaranteed.
We do not know the number of our days. But we have this moment. What might we do with it? I am writing this blog.
We shape our future moment by moment knowing God has our best in mind, ultimately, we will be honed into the image of Jesus Christ. I may not write the book but during my writing time I will pursue the dream at appropriate moments in time.
It’s not so much what we are doing but how we are doing it. Each moment is a choice. Will we walk with God or go our own way?
“Take my hand.” We say this to children as we cross a busy street or navigate a crowded public venue. Sometimes they grasp hold, fearful of losing sight of us, at other times they pull away desiring to assert their independence.
But our hand is used in more ways than to protect a child or keep a child from getting lost. Sometimes we gently encourage by placing our hand on the child or gently nudging them forward when their feet are stuck in obstinance due to self-consciousness, fear, or self-doubt.
As children of God, we have access to His hand. But what exactly does that mean. How is His hand an asset? Afterall, our heavenly Father is not flesh and blood but Spirit. There is no physical hand to grasp.
Let’s check Scripture to see the significance of having access to the hand of our Father and how we can take advantage of it.
–The Lord is always with us.
God is fully present everywhere, that is the attribute of omnipresence. The author of Psalm 16 finds this comforting. In verse 8 he states that because God is at his right hand he will not be shaken. No matter what we walk through He is right beside us. We can reach up and grab His hand.
–The Lord supports us.
David declares in Psalm 18 that the Lord was with Him in battle bringing victory. “Your right hand supports me,” he states (18:35b). When we are in the middle of conflict, feeling a little unstable in our situation we can know the Lord’s hand is upon us providing stability. We can remind ourself that the hand of an all-powerful God keeps us from toppling.
–He holds our future.
Psalm 31:15a reads: “My times are in your hand.” ESV
The New Living Translation of the Bible translates this section of Scripture as: “My future is in your hands.”
Derek Kidner writes in his commentary on the Psalms, “The very expression “my time” which faces the necessary fact of transience and change, both in one’s own being and in one’s surroundings, makes adversity easier to accept; while the knowledge that change is not chance (thy hand) can make the acceptance positive and personal. The Lord will be the stability of your times.”1
–The Lord’s hand steadies us.
Life has ups and downs that stumble us in the physical realm. Perhaps an unexpected bill from a medical practitioner, an expense not covered by insurance. But stumble is all such adversity can do because the Lord has our hand keeping us from tumbling to the ground. “Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.” (Psalm 37:24 NLT) That is reassuring!
–God’s grasp keeps us from straying.
Ps 63:8—“My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” ESV
Our ability to cling to God has little to do with us and everything to do with the tight hold He has on us. We could easily push away if His strong right hand didn’t have us securely in His grasp.
–God’s hand gives out provisions.
Psalm 104 praises God for the variety of things He has made that benefit all living creatures. For example, the cedars of Lebanon providing a place for birds to nest. Verse 28 states all are dependent upon God for their food. It reveals the personal care God gives by stating, “You open your hand to feed them, and they are richly satisfied.”
The image of God’s hand is a reminder that we walk in the presence of God. He is there for us always in every situation. Tell Him what you need and watch for His hand to provide it whether support, stabilizing, security, or straight paths. Take hold when it comes with a grateful heart.
Stories about salvation rather than devastation have begun to be reported as fires sweep through the hills of Los Angeles. One common thread through these encouraging tales is preparedness.
Families purchased gasoline generators for their swimming pool pump so they could access the pool water. Others installed small water storage tanks on their property. One man said his family had invested in electric bicycles to navigate the streets through traffic jams for a quick escape.
A woman said she created a list of all she needed to evacuate so it could be lugged to a vehicle swiftly because panic caused confusion. She had bins ready to pack heirlooms and photos.
Although the neighborhoods that burned were susceptible to wildfire, preparedness for such a natural disaster didn’t seem to be a priority. In fact, camera footage of tall flames swirling through brush into the tops of trees, exposed overgrown landscapes that had not been properly cleared increasing the probability of the house soon igniting.
Although the wildfires were probable, the devastation was shocking. We too are often shocked by adverse events although we live in a fallen world. Jesus told His disciples that on earth they would have many trials and sorrows. (John 16:33)
Trials and sorrows are not limited to natural disasters. They come upon us as emotional struggles, temptations, physical ailments, and the need for basic provisions. But God instructs us on how to prepare for adversity. Learn my Word and practice it, he states.
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” Matthew 7:24-27
A standing house has nothing to do with actual physical property. It references the stamina that comes from having walked with Jesus, taking the time to learn from Him and practice what He teaches.
Practicing God’s Word creates that firm grounding on which to stand so we don’t walk wonky when things go awry. At such times, we can resist the devil’s effort to lure us into ungodliness. We refuse to wallow in self-pity or allow bitterness or anger to fester until our actions are ungodly.
It teaches us that a student is not above his or her teacher1 and what it looks like to have a servant’s heart2
It teaches us that when we sorrow, we can turn to God for comfort.3 If we are overwhelmed, we can know that both Jesus4 and the Holy Spirit5 are interceding for us.
If overcome with anxiety we can follow the instructions in Philippians 4:6-7 and tell God our physical and emotional needs in prayer, thanking Him for all He has done and thus experience a peace that exceeds anything we can understand.
When God’s Word is written on our hearts, we are prepared to pass through the tragedy. And miraculously we come out the other side more Christ-like because God uses the experience for our good.6
We know we’ve grasped the meaning of a verse when we can walk it out. Until that time, we stand on shaky ground in adverse situations. This is one reason why I ask “how” to put into practice instructions given when I come upon Scripture that stumbles me. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would teach us all things and remind us of all things. Therefore, when we stumble over application we just need to ask.
Adverse events will come, but when we have studied God’s Word in preparation our world will not collapse.
NOTE: Do you receive my walking papers? These are monthly sheets with guidance on how to walk out specific Scripture and Biblical concepts and practices. The 2025 first quarter lineup is:
January- “How to Make Disciples.”
February- “Four Ways to Ensure Conversation is Uplifting.”
March- “How to Practice Biblical Meditation”
They are delivered in your inbox at the end of each month, so simply provide your email and you will be added to the list.
The October 2024 walking paper titled “Questions to Enrich Scripture Reflection,” will help you put into practice God’s Word thus preparing you for those adverse situations. Message me with your name and email address and I will send you the sheet.
New Year’s Eve my pastor gave a short sermon titled “Now that You Know the Story, Now What?” Throughout the Christmas season he covered what God has done on our behalf to restore us to Himself after our relationship with the living God was severed long ago in the Garden of Eden.
What do we do now that we know the great work God did on our behalf? We agape love one another.
Jesus said: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
We begin to reflect Jesus as we gain clarity on Biblical characteristics, especially agape love. We are told in Romans 5:5 that God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. But until we understand what it looks like we don’t always walk it out. The Holy Spirit gave us clarity in the book of 1 Corinthians.
1 Cor 13:4-7–Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ESV
–Love is patient
We are told that love is patient, sometimes translated from the Greek makrothumeo as longsuffering. Patient love seeks to understand others, and endures behavior that might be inconsiderate or selfish. It doesn’t issue ultimatums— “Just one more time!” It doesn’t stomp out of the room exclaiming, “That’s it, I have had enough!”
–Love is kind
The kindness Paul speaks of is chresteuomai in the original Greek, which is a desire to help or assist people. It complements patience or long-suffering because it stands beside the person ever ready to do good regardless of how he or she is treated.
–Love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude
While Paul provides two characteristics that exhibit agape, he lists six characteristics that show its absence. It does not envy, meaning we do not desire what another person has in talent, fortune, or personality traits.
At the opposite spectrum from wishing you possessed attributes or material goods belong to another, which is envy, is boasting about our abilities as if we are better than others. It is difficult to connect with people if we think we have more education, are more sophisticated, fashionable, and knowledgeable than they are. Because agape love is not arrogant, we make no distinctions between ourselves and others. When we do we can become rude, mistreating and dishonoring others.
— Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful
This love does not insist on having its own way, which is the opposite of desiring to please others. Of course, when we don’t get our own way, we become downcast resenting the other person who received the grade, job, raise, house, homelife, family, or lifestyle we desire because it just isn’t fair. Often when we are resentful, we hold a grudge and if given the chance can rattle off a long list of grievances. Perhaps this tally we keep when we are resentful is the reason this concept is translated “keeps no records of wrongs” in some Bible versions.
— Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth
It does not seek or rejoice over the misfortune of others or try to harm them but instead stands in the gap for another to prevent such unrighteous acts from happening to them. Instead of pushing someone in front of a train, we are willing to step onto the tracks to push a stranger to safety.
Finally, when we exhibit agape love we bear, believe, hope, and endure all things. In the New Testament to bear is “to cover over in silence,” therefore love does not expose the faults of others, nor does it dwell on them.
We don’t point fingers and tattle. Other people’s problems, weaknesses, or vulnerabilities are not a topic for conversation with others. We believe in this person, that he or she can change for the better, and therefore we wait expectantly for our Heavenly Father to do a great work and we don’t give up.
1 Corinthians 13:8 begins with the words “Love never fails.” It’s long lasting, and what it produces will last as well.
My husband frequently states: “I can’t wait until tomorrow.” Many who hear that statement will be hooked and ask: “What happens tomorrow?” His reply is: “I get better looking every day.”
The responses to his news vary. Some think he is full of himself, puffed up and arrogant. Others laugh because it seems impossible, after all day-by-day we grow older and with the aging process comes wrinkles, paunches, and reduced stamina. Those who consider such a statement personally can’t seem to connect. They see physical and character flaws that aren’t very flattering.
Yet the beauty he references isn’t in the physical realm but the spiritual realm. As God’s Word permeates our hearts and minds, we do get better looking.
2 Cor 3:18–So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. NLT
Look forward to tomorrow. But don’t check your portrait in a mirror for your progress as the sun rises to mark a new day. Instead, check the reaction of the people God puts in your path to determine if they see Jesus in you.
“Don’t let Satan rob you of the joy of the season.” I read this exhortation in an advent devotional the first week of December.
How might Satan steal our joy? He takes our focus from Jesus Christ.
If the deceiver points to meager gifts, disappointing festivities, burned sugar cookies, or lonely nights, remember:
–Jesus came so we can live in the presence of God.
When my heart opened to Jesus Christ it was as if a veil lifted from my eyes and I saw Him, I knew who He was, and I was in His presence. If you too live in the presence of God, you have a salvation story uniquely yours.
Some of these stories are recorded in the Bible.
The Apostle Paul met Jesus Christ on the way to Damascus to arrest Christians who claimed Jesus was the way to God and worshiped Him. He was immersed in a great light and fell to his knees in repentance.
Zacchaeus, a hated tax collector, climbed a tree to get a glimpse of Jesus as He passed by. But Jesus saw him and invited him to fellowship.
After Jesus rose from the dead He met two disciples, who were dismayed by His crucifixion. He walked with them to the village of Emmaus. During the journey He took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. [Luke 24:27] At the evening meal in Emmaus, their eyes were opened and they recognized Him as the Messiah.
If you have not yet met Jesus, ask, “what category am I in?”
Like Paul, do you believe you are righteous and therefore do not need a savior? Are you like Zacchaeus, labeled by society as despicable and therefore beyond any hope of salvation? Or, perhaps you have acknowledged Jesus is the Son of God, like the two on the road to Emmaus, but have not made that personal connection.
The third is my experience. I celebrated the birth of Christ at Christmas without having that personal relationship with Him until one moment in time when my head knowledge became heart knowledge and I saw Jesus for who He is and walked into the presence of the living God.
Romans 5:11 tells us that we rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we receive reconciliation.
–Jesus came that we may have life abundantly.
John 10:10 reads: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Jesus is speaking, and the thief He is referencing is Satan.
The Greek word translated “abundantly” is “perissos” [pe-ris-sos]. It means superabundant–in quantity, or superior in quality; excessive, beyond measure.
I have crossed paths with brothers and sisters in Christ whom I have not seen in a while. To catch me up on all that has occurred since we last talked, they tell me they are living the “good life.” Usually, that means everything is going their way. But is this the life Jesus was talking about?
I think not. I came to a greater understanding of this Scripture during an early morning Biblical discussion with my husband, Terry, as we were drinking coffee. He stated that a good description for the work of Satan was entropy [en-truh-pee], which is a physics term. Simply put, it is a lack of order or predictability; gradual decline into disorder.
There is no comparison— life with Jesus is “excessive beyond measure in quantity and quality” while the thief’s work results in decline.
When Jesus is our Lord and Savior, we are transformed—built back into the person God created us to be.
–Jesus came to set us free.
Sin no longer has the hold it once did because God now puts His commands within our hearts and writes them on our minds. [Hebrews 10:16] Chuck Smith explains that when we are in Christ, God works from the inside out by putting His thoughts and desires in our heart.
The Law given to the Israelites to help them walk in righteousness with God worked from the outside in and consisted of a list of do’s and don’ts. Those most familiar to us are known as the 10 commandments.
Before Christ, they are a list of “You shall nots.” “You shall not steal; you shall not covet; you shall not murder.” After Christ, the emphasis becomes “you shall.” “You shall not steal; you shall not covet; you shall not murder.”
We are freed from the bondage of sin because we are changed from the inside. And most importantly the Holy Spirit who resides in us is our teacher and helper. It’s a supernatural power rather than willpower.
–Jesus came to give us hope and a future.
We will one day see Jesus face to face, but eternal life begins when our spirit comes alive and we experience the second birth described in John chapter 3.
Scripture tells us “This is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3
The Bible is a book about God and He reveals Himself within its pages. He tells us that He is our provider, our refuge, our comforter, our sustainer, our conqueror, and our strength.
How do these words on paper become our reality?
When we seek Him in all these capacities, we will find He truly is our provider, refuge, comforter, sustainer, conqueror, and strength.
The prophet Jeremiah tells us: “We will find God when we seek Him with all our heart.” [29:13.]
This is our hope. The koine Greek word for hope in the New Testament is “elpis” which indicates trust and confidence. We can confidently know God is all He says He is and will fulfill every promise He makes.
What is our future? Glorification. At the second coming of Christ believers will enter into the eternal “kingdom of God” and attain complete conformity to the image and likeness of the glorified Christ.1
The Apostle John writes to believers in 1 John 3:2-“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”
–Jesus came so we can be the masterpiece he envisions.
We are masterfully created. I am not talking about how our body works (although amazing), but our individual talent, skills, personality traits, viewpoint, and spiritual insight. All that makes us unique, one of a kind.
In Christ, we become the person God envisioned, fit for the Master’s use. Ephesian 2:10 explains— “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
We become the masterpiece God created by His hand. He uses the circumstances we go through to hone us into the image of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:28-29). He gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth (John 16:13-14). The change takes place lesson by lesson as we read God’s Word and listen to Biblical teachers; conviction by conviction as the Holy Spirit reveals how to implement Scripture; and test by test as God gives us opportunity to glorify Him by our actions.
In 2 Corinthians 3:18 we read: “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
I have named five reasons to rejoice, but my list is very short compared to what it might be. At the end of the gospel of John, the apostle wrote that the whole world could not contain the books that would be written if everything Jesus did was written down. This is also true of the reasons to rejoice over His birth.
I hope you will create a list of all Jesus Christ has done, not just for humanity but you personally. This is the joy of Christmas that can never be snatched, not even by Satan.
Do you hold back when God makes a request or gives you direction?
Abraham did not. When God gave instructions to sacrifice his son, Isaac, he obeyed. We are told he cut the wood for the burnt offering, rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and journeyed for three days to the land of Moriah with Isaac and two servants.
“When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.” [Genesis 22:9-10]
At that point, God stopped him.
We are told Abraham feared the Lord. What is the fear of the Lord? These four points seem to capture the essence of this theological term:
Having a deep respect, reverence, and awe for God’s power and authority.
Recognizing God’s infinite power, wisdom, and authority over all creation.
Standing in awe of His majesty, power, wisdom, justice, and mercy.
Being soberly aware of His divine authority and not trivializing His judgment or wrath.1
Before this illustration of trust is given in Genesis 22, we are told in the first sentence that this request was a test. What might stop us from giving our all, exhibiting complete trust in God? Or maybe not even stepping forward in obedience?
–Fear might cause us to hold back.
Not the same “fear” of the Lord but the Mirriam Webster Dictionary definition: “An unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger.”
Anticipating failure can stifle me. Or the fear of looking foolish in my attempts. Or the fear of criticism. Lists of fears seem to flow easily from my pen, how about you?
–Self-focus could hold us back.
Often, we look at our talent, skills, finances, resources; everything but God. When there is a request for money, my reaction is to look at my bank account rather than ask God for direction. Requests for help, may be selected according to my schedule. Before taking on a ministry, I may consider the skills I have to perform the task. How about you?
—A meager attitude might result in holding back.
We live meagerly when we look at what is not instead of what is. Therefore, our work is not abundant nor is it our best. Those who don’t hold back are willing, like Isaiah, to raise their hand when God asks “whom shall I send?” and reply “Here I am! Send me.” [Isaiah 6:8] Do you do your best work abundantly?
Because Abraham did not hold back, God did not hold back either. He blessed him promising to multiply his offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore.
If our life seems to be less than what it could be, maybe we need to spend some time reviewing all the opportunities we missed in 2024. Were they a test? It’s not too late to ask God to help us recall the instructions and give us another chance.
I have been reading about the rhythms of work, rest, and worship established by God. He shows us what is best in each of these areas. What our calendar should look like.
God has established rhythms that keep us tethered to Him. Why is this important? Because we are prone to wander.
Bible study author Erin Davis brings this to my attention. She writes that she sang an 18th century hymn, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” as a lullaby to her boys for they were born with the DNA of Adam and Eve. Therefore, as sinners, they like us are prone to wander.
A few of the words penned by Robert Robinson:
Oh, to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be!
Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee:
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it; seal it for thy courts above.
“We’re all prone to wander, aren’t we? Our sinful hearts are prone to wander from God’s law. We are prone to forget His precious promises. We tend to prioritize our way over God’s way,” writes Davis.1
God gives us direction on rhythms we can use as measurements to see if we might be wandering away from Him. Look at your day, week, month and see if your pattern of work, rest, worship is drawing you closer to God or if you are drifting from Him.
–The rhythm of work.
God provides for us by the work of our hands.
The very first job description was written by God for Adam. He was to tend and watch over the Garden of Eden. The trees in the garden produced delicious fruit that sustained him.
We are commanded to work. The apostle Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians “If anyone is not willing to work, he should not eat.” [3:10] And he wrote to Timothy that families were responsible for the support of their relatives, particularly members of their household. [1 Timothy 5:8]
But work does much more than pay rent and put food on the table. It helps us develop our God given skills and talents and use them for God’s glory. God is creative, productive, and insightful and we are like Him. Work gives us purpose and fulfillment. We get up in the morning not to just survive but to thrive as we contribute to the wellbeing of our families as well as society. Also, we achieve mastery in areas of giftedness as we pursue those God given passions such as music, writing, math, art, engineering, architecture, and fashion.
Work is good but it should not be all consuming. How much of your day is devoted to your job or career?
–The rhythm of rest.
The command to rest from labor is given in Exodus 20:8-10. “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work.” NLT
“A good God has ordained regular rhythms of rest for those who worship him,” writes Jen Wilkin in her book “Ten Words to Live By.”2
The Hebrew word shabat translated as Sabbath means “cease.” Wilkin explains, “More than the deliberate cessation of work for the purpose of decompressing, Sabbath is the deliberate cessation of any activity that might reinforce my belief in my own self-sufficiency.”
It is not a spa day or lunch out with friends, a day on the golf course or shopping because we are asking others to labor on our behalf.
Have you developed a rhythm of rest, ceasing labor, and trusting in God’s provision?
–The rhythm of worship.
Church is a part of the rhythm of worship. God designed the tabernacle right after the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt and guided to the Promised Land. Once settled, they continued to assemble for worship. Eventually a temple was built by King Solomon in Jerusalem.
Christians are to gather for worship as well. We meet to listen to a pastor/teacher so we will be equipped to do the work of the ministry. We learn how to apply Scripture so that we become servants like Jesus Christ and spread the gospel to all the world making disciples. The local church is also a place where believers exhort and encourage one another.
“And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25 NLT
Communion, also taken at church, is a key element of the rhythm of worship. Jesus initiated it at the Passover meal the night before his crucifixion. He broke bread into pieces symbolizing His body and took a cup of wine symbolizing His blood poured out as a sacrifice and shared it with His disciples. He commanded, “Do this in remembrance of me.”
I see that my rhythm is work heavy and void of Sabbath. Therefore, I plan to adjust. How is your schedule? If you have wandered like I have I hope you will join me in establishing godly rhythms of work, rest, and worship.
This week I have more thoughts on repentance. In my last blog I wrote about being led by the Spirit rather than succumbing to the desires of the flesh.
To refresh your memory, I wrote:
“Through the revelation of the Holy Spirit, we see the incongruity between our behavior and the Word of God… realizing we are out of step. By repenting, turning from the flesh to the ways of God, our walk is restored. As we implement the Biblical verses the Spirit reveals, we are back in step with Him.
In repentance we proclaim “not my way, but your way God.” We turn from sin and turn toward God and His will. It is often a radical transformation of attitude and direction.1”
This time I want to explore Job 28:28, a Scripture pinned to my bulletin board in front of my desk.
Job 28:28—“And he said to man,
‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
and to turn away from evil is understanding.'” ESV
We depart from evil, ways that separate us from God, when we understand Scripture, God’s ways and how to walk in them. That is repentance.
The Bible is a book about God. Who He is, why humans were created, and how we fit in His plan. We gain knowledge when we study Scripture but to apply it, we need wisdom and that comes when we can see it through the lens of God based on His attributes.
The application of Scripture leads to godly living, evidence of understanding. The ability to walk out Scripture.
How do we get to the point of understanding?
-Do not be wise in your own eyes
When we act independently of God, making our decisions apart from Scripture and prayer, we are wise in our own eyes.
Sometimes this happens because the decision seems obvious. At other times we may go along to get along. Or the decision may be self-serving.
Not long ago I decided to make an illegal U-turn because I was in a hurry and everybody else was doing it. The difficulty was a result of a closed road due to construction therefore I felt justified. My actions did not honor God and I needed to ask forgiveness.
Consider these questions:
Do you skip any portion of God’s Word because you don’t want to sit with it for as long as it takes to gain understanding?
Are there any sections with which you disagree?
Are there commands that you balk at, asking “did God really say?”
Remember Scripture supports Scripture so there are other verses that can clarify the meaning.
-Seek God’s wisdom
In Isaiah 55:8-9 we read, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” NLT
We find this verse inspiring unless the way we are inclined to go clashes with God’s wisdom.
Something may be easier, more attractive to us, seem more beneficial but if it doesn’t please God, it is not the right choice. When we fear the Lord, our desire is to honor Him.
-Recognize how to be victorious
When we understand how to apply a Scripture we have gained understanding. But we never walk it out in our power. In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul discusses our battle with the flesh [Ro. 7:14-14-20] and directs us to the Holy Spirit for help.
In the book of 2 Corinthians, Paul tells of an issue he struggled with and how God’s grace helped him in his weakness. [2 Corinthians 12:9]
Knowing how to walk out the Scripture we study goes beyond a head and heart transformation to a reliance transformation. And that brings us full circle back to being wise in our own eyes.
God is our source of victory. And we need the full counsel of God to be victorious in our walk.
Walt Kelly, author of the comic strip Pogo, created an Earth Day poster in 1970 with the quote, “We have met the enemy and he is us.” His point was that the environment was polluted by people not by some outside force.
Likewise, those of us who are in Christ can be our own worst enemy, spoiling the perfection God envisioned when He created us in His image by succumbing to the flesh. I think of the term flesh as our sinful nature which is self-focused, self-centered, and self-gratifying. Fleshly traits that prevent us from becoming the person God created.
In Christ we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit who gives us spiritual eyesight; the ability to see things from a godly perspective and walk in the ways of God.
Paul tells us: “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16) Later in this chapter he tells us to “keep in step with the Spirit.” (5:25)
Through the revelation of the Holy Spirit, we see the incongruity between our behavior and the Word of God… realizing we are out of step. By repenting, turning from the flesh to the ways of God, our walk is restored. As we implement the Biblical verses the Spirit reveals, we are back in step with Him.
In repentance we proclaim “not my way, but your way God.” We turn from sin and turn toward God and His will. It is often a radical transformation of attitude and direction.1
But this victory does not come in our own strength or by our own will, according to Warren W. Wiersbe. Victory comes by surrendering our will to the Holy Spirit. The direction is in Galatians 5:18, “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” He explains the verse literally reads willingly led.2
Wiersbe explains—The Holy Spirit writes God’s law on our hearts3 so we delight to do His will.4 We desire to obey Him out of love.5
Another Bible commentator, Tony Evans, writes: “To ‘walk by the Spirit’ is to discover God’s view on a matter, decide to act on that divine perspective, and depend on the Holy Spirit to empower your obedience.”6
Let’s look at these steps.
*Discover God’s View
The Holy Spirit brings Scripture to mind when our behavior is out of step with the ways of God. But He can’t remind us of something that isn’t there. Our part is to study the Bible. God’s ways are remarkable and worth the time and effort it takes to gain understanding.
Most often God’s instructions are not something that come naturally. Sometimes we think, “I do that,” or “I can do that.” Then a situation comes up that requires the implementation of this Scripture and we learn we haven’t mastered it. It is not yet written on our heart.
*Decide to Act on God’s Perspective
Instead of trying to master a Scripture in our own strength, we turn to the Holy Spirit and ask Him for direction on how to implement it. But we must do so with a willing heart.
Hannah Whitall Smith, author of “The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life,” described a willing heart as God’s commands becoming desires springing up within us.
“They will originate in our will; we shall feel as though we desired to do so and so not as though we must,” she writes.
As we surrender to the Holy Spirit, God’s commands no longer seem like something we have to do but something we get to do.
*Depend on the Holy Spirit
When we depend on ourselves, we use our willpower to resist the flesh and walk in God’s ways.
Willpower is “the ability to control one’s own actions, emotions, or urges. Also, strong determination that allows one to do something difficult.” (merriam-webster.com) Sometimes this works, but it takes great effort and often it fails. And it is not transformative. Our behavior looks changed, if our determination remains strong.
However, striving is exhausting and we always seem to fall short of the mark. Victory comes by divine power not by willpower.
Yes, there is a war within. Fleshly desire and a desire to walk in the Spirit are at odds with each other. Paul warns us in his epistles.
Rom 7:18—”For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” ESV
Gal 5:17—“For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” ESV
As soon as we recognize the flesh, we can wave a white flag signaling surrender to the Holy Spirit. In repentance turn from sin toward God and His will.
How do I make excuses for my sin? I am prompted to ask this question of myself during a Bible study I am working through on the book of Romans in which the author suggests we are prone to excuse our sins.1
We justify harsh words with such excuses as exhaustion or a tight schedule. Sharing degrading information about another person is disguised as a prayer request rather than labeled gossip. We claim a lie as protection rather than deception.
Yet God wants us to acknowledge our sin.
“Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.” Psalm 51:6 NIV
David, the author of this Psalm, needed a radical transformation of his inner self so that he might learn wisdom and adopt God’s perspective on all things, writes Tony Evans in his commentary on the Bible. “We need the same,” he states.2
How do we get such a radical transformation of our inner self… letting go of inappropriate thought processes, negative emotions, and self-absorption? How do we begin to see all things from God’s perspective?
Here’s three ways to radically transform our inner self and stop excusing sin:
–Ask God to examine our heart to uncover excuses for sin.
Long ago I was taught to pray Psalm 139:23-24 before my morning devotions so as I read my Bible the Holy Spirit would convict me of any sin I harbored in my heart.
The Psalm reads: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
The Holy Spirit’s conviction is not the same as the accusations brought by Satanic forces. To be shown where we have gone astray provides opportunity for correction and we desire to repent. And the Holy Spirit is our Helper. He brings to our mind Scripture that addresses the issue and shows us how to walk it out. He lovingly tutors us in righteousness. [The next blog post [Oct. 29] will focus on the how-to of repentance.]
–Determine the appropriate response to the Scripture we study.
Keep a list of questions in your Bible so after you have determined the meaning of the text you can contemplate questions that will result in an appropriate response.
Ask: What response does God want from me?
–Is there anything I need to confess and ask forgiveness for?
–Is there an error to avoid?
–Is there an example to follow?
–Is there a sin to forsake?
–Is there a promise to claim?
–Is there an action I should take?
–Is there a command to obey?
–Is there a warning to heed?
[If you would like a more detailed list of questions, signup for my mailing list and receive a walking paper titled “Transformation Questions to Glean More from Scripture”]
–Replace excuses for sin with memorized Scripture.
As we memorize Scripture, we go over a verse time and again. This close examination helps us notice subtle nuances we never noted before. The words are not only captured in our brain they become ingrained in our heart.
If we make excuses for gossip, what verses might we examine?
–Psalm 141: 3 “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.” With this verse we ask the Lord for help, not only acknowledging our problem but seeking the power of the Holy Spirit to refrain from repeating gossip.
–Proverbs 15:4 “The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” Words matter. They can be life giving or destructive. This verse magnifies the power of our words. It should help us consider whether our words will build up or tear down.
–Proverbs 26:20 “Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.” Divisiveness is fueled by gossip. Before we pass along information that fractures unity within a church, a family, or among friends we might think about the destruction we are causing and what might occur if we keep quiet.
This same method of gathering Scripture can be used with other areas of sin with which we struggle. Research the verses that address anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, judgmental attitudes, or whatever sin you tend to excuse and memorize them. Combine this with the other two tips and soon you will have no need for excuses.
