Oh how our lives would look differently if we really believed God. About everything. All the time. Without fail.
As a Bible believing, Spirit filled, born again follower of Jesus, I would proudly profess that I really believe God. I could give you a whole list of things that I believe to be true. I could tell you about my belief in God, Father Son and Holy Spirit. I could tell you how I believe in His Word. That the Bible is the inerrant word of God...perfect and complete in every way. I could tell you about all of the promises of God and spout off scripture after scripture, and surely I believe all of that to be true.
But do I really believe it? I mean, REALLY. Enough to live it. Enough to trust it. Enough to rest in it.
Are you like me, dear Christian? Do you know it and believe it in your head, and so often fail to really believe it in your heart?
I say again, how different our lives would look if we really believed Him. Radically different! Drastically changed! Indeed, we would be a force to be reckoned with.
Here is a little taste of what we would be like if we truly took God at His word...
*We would be fearless! Oh the power of fear in this world. Fear of man, fear of failure, fear of heights, fear of death, fear of illness, fear of tragedy, fear of evil, fear of cockroaches (which I guess should go in the previous category...). How much time and energy we waste on misguided fear! I am preaching to myself here, as fear is my greatest foe against my trust in God. And yet, God is most certainly not silent on this issue. I cannot even count the number of times that God says "fear not" or "do not be afraid".
Isaiah 41:10 says "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Isaiah 43:1-5 says "But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, 'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...you are precious in My sight...you are honored and I love you...Do not fear, for I am with you.."
Go back and read that again and this time put your name in place of Jacob and Israel. Do you realize the vastness of this promise? If I truly believed this all the time and took God at His word, this alone would have the power to radically change me. And this is but the tip of the iceberg! If you struggle with fear (as I would suspect we all do at some level), I challenge you to go and look it up. Spend some time with God on this issue. Read His promises that He has given personally to you in His Word. And believe Him. You will not be the same.
*We would pray! From everything that I have learned about God and from God, I am beginning to realize something that is both incredible and overwhelming at the same time. I am beginning to realize just how BIG our God is, and that even my wildest comprehension of His vastness is but a drop in the ocean of the reality of it. God is showing me that He is so much bigger than I give Him credit for. He is all powerful, all knowing, ever present. Everything is His. Everyone is under His Authority. And this God, who is Mighty, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Victorious even over death, invites me to come to Him and pray. "Come," He says, "share your heart with me. Sit and visit. Tell me anything and everything. And no matter what, I will love you. I will help you. I will heal you. I will mend your broken heart. I will provide for you. I will protect you. Ask for ANYTHING in my name and I will give it to you (Jn 14:13)." Wow! What if we really believed that? What if we truly believed that the God of the Universe, possessing every resource and having all power, longed to hear from us and moved in power when we asked Him for things. I suspect that if we truly knew who He was and the incredible power that there is in prayer that we would be a people who prayed a great deal more than we do. Not out of obligation, but out of desperation and desire. That we would spend less time trying to fix things ourselves, talking about things, complaining, etc, and more time praying about them. Not boring, stiff, formal prayer; not "hurry up and pray so I can eat" kind of prayer, but intimate and passionate communication with a Powerful God who hears and responds.
How else would we look different if we always believed Him? We would always trust Him. We would be kept in perfect peace at all times, regardless of the circumstances. We would know that we are loved infinitely more than we can imagine by our Holy God, and freely pour that love out on others. We would bear no shame, but praise Him for the restoration and redemption that we have in Christ. We would love always, rejoice always, forgive always. We would be filled with the fruits of the Spirit, we would serve, we would love the "least of these." Our words would always bless, encourage, edify, and be seasoned with grace. We would build His kingdom instead of building our own. We would expectantly wait for His return and fervently share the Gospel with a lost and dying world. We would worship.
Oh that I could expand on every one of these and more. Some of you are probably surprised that I didn't, knowing how long winded I can be. :) My prayer for you and for me is that we will live like we really believe God. That we will take Him at His Word. That His word will not just be a book of stories and promises and good morals that we believe in our heads, but it would be a powerful, life giving, world altering force. I pray that we as we have a greater revelation of who He is and learn to really believe Him in our hearts, that He will transform us through the power of His Word and His Spirit and that we will be radically different for His Glory.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Friday, May 18, 2012
A Walk To The Park
I have a two year old boy who absolutely loves going to the park. This spring, our post nap routine has been to load up the stroller, grab the dog, the snack cup, the basketball and all other essential sports items and head out for a walk to the park. The problem is, sometimes my little man knows just enough that he thinks we are not going to the park after all. If I turn in a direction that he feels is leading us the wrong way, he will squirm and flail in protest at mom's cruel injustice. Oh he knows the way to the park alright, and this is not it! "Go the other way, Mommy, the park is that way!"
One day in particular, he was none too pleased that Mom seemed to forget that the whole point of our little stroller outings was to get to the park for him to play. He fussed as I continued to push him further from his desired destination. I tried reasoning with him..."Buddy, Mommy is taking you to the park, we are just going to make a big loop first. We're going to walk along the canals and then by the rainbow fountain, but don't worry, we are going to the park." Fussing continued, now coupled with him wiggling in an attempt for him to break free from his stroller harness. Reasoning was not working. A two year old mind cannot always follow the logic of his thirty year old Mama (who of course is very wise and quite profound). Then I said, "Buddy, you are just going to have to trust Mama."
Ahh, and then it clicked. Do you ever have those moments where you hear yourself say something, and then you realize that the true lesson is for you? That is what happened to me in that moment. In my attempt to teach my son, the Lord taught me.
Plain and simple, the Lord showed me that I have a very simple choice in this life...am I going to choose to trust Him or not? Trust has nothing to do with the circumstances, and it has nothing to do with understanding all of the details. I asked my son to trust me solely on the basis of who I am. He could not understand my reasoning, and all visual evidence to him seemed to portray that I was leading him astray. Yet, I was asking him to choose to trust me simply because I am Mama.
In the same way, we are asked to trust God not because we understand the path that He is leading us down or because we can see clearly how all of this is going to play out in "leading us to the park," but rather simply because He is God. When circumstances do not go the way that you had hoped, when times of waiting seem to stretch on and on with no end in sight, when dreams are dashed to pieces and long time plans are laid waste, will you trust Him "just because He is God?" The question in those times of disappointment is not "why?" Often times, we want to ask God why things did not work out the way that we had asked. But very much like me trying to explain something to my 2 year old that was beyond his comprehension, so our minds can never understand the ways of God. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." The question we need to be asking is not why, but rather, "Is my God trustworthy?"
Throughout the Old Testament, God continually points out His faithfulness in the past to increase the faith of His people in the future. Over and over again, you will read of God recounting how he led His people out of Egypt and so on. In essence He is saying, "Remember who I am. I am God who is faithful. I am trustworthy, so trust me." He is immutable, His character never changes. If He was faithful then, He will be faithful now. In my own life the same is true. I can look back on the past 30 years and say, "Yes Lord, You are faithful and You are trustworthy. You have never let me down, you have never failed me. And so I will trust you."
Just like I knew that my son wanted to go to the park, so God knows our hearts, our desires, our "intended destinations." Will you trust Him with those? If my son had broken free from the stroller, how successful do you think he would have been in making it there himself? Let's just say I wouldn't wait to find out. Likewise, I am helpless without God. All of my attempts to control outcomes myself are futile. So rather than complaining and whining and kicking and screaming, I will sit back and enjoy the ride. I will rest in knowing that my trustworthy God is leading the way and "pushing my stroller," and even when the path takes an unexpected turn, I will trust that He knows the best way to get to the park after all.
Additional Scriptures:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." ~Proverbs 3:5-6
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." ~Proverbs 16:9
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." ~Psalm 23
One day in particular, he was none too pleased that Mom seemed to forget that the whole point of our little stroller outings was to get to the park for him to play. He fussed as I continued to push him further from his desired destination. I tried reasoning with him..."Buddy, Mommy is taking you to the park, we are just going to make a big loop first. We're going to walk along the canals and then by the rainbow fountain, but don't worry, we are going to the park." Fussing continued, now coupled with him wiggling in an attempt for him to break free from his stroller harness. Reasoning was not working. A two year old mind cannot always follow the logic of his thirty year old Mama (who of course is very wise and quite profound). Then I said, "Buddy, you are just going to have to trust Mama."
Ahh, and then it clicked. Do you ever have those moments where you hear yourself say something, and then you realize that the true lesson is for you? That is what happened to me in that moment. In my attempt to teach my son, the Lord taught me.
Plain and simple, the Lord showed me that I have a very simple choice in this life...am I going to choose to trust Him or not? Trust has nothing to do with the circumstances, and it has nothing to do with understanding all of the details. I asked my son to trust me solely on the basis of who I am. He could not understand my reasoning, and all visual evidence to him seemed to portray that I was leading him astray. Yet, I was asking him to choose to trust me simply because I am Mama.
In the same way, we are asked to trust God not because we understand the path that He is leading us down or because we can see clearly how all of this is going to play out in "leading us to the park," but rather simply because He is God. When circumstances do not go the way that you had hoped, when times of waiting seem to stretch on and on with no end in sight, when dreams are dashed to pieces and long time plans are laid waste, will you trust Him "just because He is God?" The question in those times of disappointment is not "why?" Often times, we want to ask God why things did not work out the way that we had asked. But very much like me trying to explain something to my 2 year old that was beyond his comprehension, so our minds can never understand the ways of God. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." The question we need to be asking is not why, but rather, "Is my God trustworthy?"
Throughout the Old Testament, God continually points out His faithfulness in the past to increase the faith of His people in the future. Over and over again, you will read of God recounting how he led His people out of Egypt and so on. In essence He is saying, "Remember who I am. I am God who is faithful. I am trustworthy, so trust me." He is immutable, His character never changes. If He was faithful then, He will be faithful now. In my own life the same is true. I can look back on the past 30 years and say, "Yes Lord, You are faithful and You are trustworthy. You have never let me down, you have never failed me. And so I will trust you."
Just like I knew that my son wanted to go to the park, so God knows our hearts, our desires, our "intended destinations." Will you trust Him with those? If my son had broken free from the stroller, how successful do you think he would have been in making it there himself? Let's just say I wouldn't wait to find out. Likewise, I am helpless without God. All of my attempts to control outcomes myself are futile. So rather than complaining and whining and kicking and screaming, I will sit back and enjoy the ride. I will rest in knowing that my trustworthy God is leading the way and "pushing my stroller," and even when the path takes an unexpected turn, I will trust that He knows the best way to get to the park after all.
Additional Scriptures:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." ~Proverbs 3:5-6
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." ~Proverbs 16:9
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." ~Psalm 23
Thursday, May 10, 2012
My Basil Plant
God just taught me a lesson through my basil plant. Indeed, the Lord speaks in mysterious ways…He speaks in everything, He is in everything. I love it when God snaps my spiritual eyes and ears in tune with Him, and helps me to see Truth in the world around me. That is what just happened to me a few moments ago.
I was outside watering my tomatoes and checking on my herbs. I have gotten into container gardening this year and cannot tell you how excited I am about it! When checking on my basil, something near the top of my plant caught my attention. I drew close and let out an audible “whoa!” I am not sure if the picture will truly reveal the marvel that stuck out to me. There at the top of the plant, you could see that there were dozens of ity bity basil leaves just waiting to come up! Then, in about an instant God deposited a truth in my heart that I will attempt to convey to you. When God speaks truth to your heart, it is truly an amazing thing. In a Nano second, you just get it. He does not use words; it is as if you just now know something that you did not the instant before. I will try to explain this in words, because unlike the Holy Spirit I cannot deposit truth in your heart, but I pray that through me He will reveal to you the same delightful truth that He just shared with me.
As I stooped down low and looked at the basil plant, I was amazed at just how many basil leaves there were about to come up. I realized that most of the time, I find myself savoring each leaf and not wanting to waste it, feeling as if there are a limited number of leaves that I am about to use up. Looking at all of those baby leaves, it hit me that God was about to bring about more basil leaves than I could count. They are not limited, I do not have to use them so sparingly, God is showing my little basil plant increase. And in my heart, the spiritual truth set in.
This is how God wants to bless me. Not sparingly, but beyond what I can count. He does not just have one blessing for me that I better use well and enjoy. He has blessing upon blessing. He wants to overwhelm me with them! He has so much in store and so much more to come. They are limitless, they are abundant. He is a generous God! In Ephesians, Paul writes, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Eph 3:20-21) He delights in blessing us, because in doing so it ultimately brings glory to Jesus Christ.
Oh that I will obediently follow Him, that I will love Him wholeheartedly, that I will know Him intimately. Psalm 37:4 says “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” This is not a “how to get what you want from God” type of quote. It cannot be manipulated, for we must remember that God always knows the “thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Heb 4:12). Proverbs 16:2 says “All a man’s ways are innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord.” We cannot pretend to delight in God to get what we want, because He knows our hearts and our motives. But on the other hand, when we truly delight in God, when we long for and seek and desire Him above all else, then we will become like my little basil plant. We will have a plethora of blessings that spring forth so abundantly that we cannot even count them all!
Just to be clear, I am not necessarily speaking of so called earthly blessings…money, beauty, health, a problem free, stress free existence. I am speaking of heavenly blessings. He will give us good things. He will bless us richly. He is our good and generous God!
Oh Lord, thank you that you love to bless me, not because I deserve it, but simply because of who You are! You are the God who has created every Good thing, you create everything beautiful. The glorious magnificence of a beautiful sunset, the heart lifting giggle of a little one, the ever growing depth of true love…all of these are from you, thought up by you, created simply for our enjoyment and for the glory of Your name. Oh Lord, we thank you for the abundance of blessings all around us. Indeed, they are rich. We breathe you in deeply, overwhelmed with gratitude for the extravagant ways that you express Your love toward us. Lord, indeed we delight in You. Not because we long for stuff. You are the prize, You are the greatest blessing. Indeed as the song goes, “As the deer panteth for the water so my soul longeth after Thee. You alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship Thee.” We love you, Jesus, thank you for the blessing of life that is found in You alone. We love You, Father, thank You for being a God who has created such beauty and so generously pours out your blessings on us. We love you, Holy Spirit, thank you for revealing Your truth to us in all things, including a little pot of basil. You are a magnificent God, and I am so honored that you have chosen me to know you. I am humbled. I love you Lord, thank you for loving me first! In Jesus name, Amen.
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