Distant or Up-close and Personal?

I recently read an excellent book by James P. Gills, M.D. called The Prayerful Spirit. It gave great clarification as to why sometimes God appears to be distant from His creation. Of course, He’s not. How you perceive Him greatly determines your path in life. Your perception becomes your reality.

In the book he talks about the two views of God. In theological terms, God is called transcendent (above us) and immanent (with us). The word transcendent means superior, excellent, unequalled, and divine. When we say that God is transcendent we are saying He is eternal, unchanging, and without limits. He’s not only independent and self-existent; He is infinitely greater than all His creation. God is Holy and His transcendence is His greatness—His Omnipotence, His Omnipresence, His Omniscience. This greatness is what stirs wonder, awe and humility in us as His creation. “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.” Psalm 147:5 “ Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than the depths of the grave—what can you know?” Job 11:7-9

To say that God is immanent means that He is near us as our Helper and Comforter. To be immanent is to be intrinsic, ingrained, and internal. The very name given Jesus—Immanuel means “God with us.” He sustains us in times of trouble, and we trust and abide in Him as our Lord and Redeemer. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” Psalm 46:1-3

As a believer in Christ, God is both above us and within us. Before I became a Christian I did not understand the “immanent” part. I always believed in a God who created the universe. I believed that He was out there somewhere (transcendent) doing His thing, but I did not understand the “immanent” part until I fully surrendered my life to Jesus Christ. I learned that I could have a personal relationship with the Lord, and that He would come into my life to dwell (immanent). What a difference that made! I no longer viewed God from a distance, but from an up-close, personal relationship. My prayer life took on a new meaning and I immersed myself in His Word. I wanted to know God personally.

Unfortunately, many people view God the same way I used to—from a distance. When we view God in this way we begin to believe that He is a creator who just doesn’t have much to do with His creation anymore. Our limited view of Him keeps us from pursuing a vibrant, up-close relationship. Our prayers are reduced to formal, rote prayers, and yet we wonder why we do not experience any sort of hope or healing. “I pray to God all the time yet He doesn’t seem to answer,” is a frequent response. Too often, we fall away and give up praying altogether.

Those who pursue a personal relationship with Jesus know that He is immanent. They are keenly aware that they can do nothing on their own but must stay connected to the vine. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5. They do not let familiarity reduce Him to some sort of “magical genie” who will grant them all their wishes. They have not lost their reverence and fear of the Holy and Almighty God. They stand in awe of Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all they could ever ask or imagine. He may be up-close and personal, yet He is also transcendent, therefore, they acknowledge His power, His Holiness, and His greatness. They worship Him out of love. They know Him as Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals, and Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides, and Jehovah Shalom , the God of peace.

My big take away from this book was that God is BOTH above us and with us. If we don’t believe in both aspects of God, we reduce Him to what we want Him to be. We either make Him out to be this distant and uncaring God, thereby limiting a powerful and personal relationship, or we become so casually familiar with Him that we lose our reverence and awe of Him. This can lead to disillusionment and complacency.

When we come to the place where we recognize that God is both greater than we are and yet is near to us, our prayer life becomes a joy and can be simple. We pray to Him as we talk to our friends and we don’t need eloquent, showy, or dramatic prayers. We come before Him with a humble and sincere heart. We can pray quietly with love, and as we confidently and expectantly come to Him, He becomes our dwelling place.

“In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.” Ephesians 2:21-22

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2

My Christmas Miracle

I was looking forward to the New Year. 2010 would be a great year, I just felt it in the marrow of my bones. I was about to experience a major milestone in my life—turn the big 5-0. I was happy, healthy, and ready to publish my memoir. It had been 20 years since the tragic death of my firstborn son, Derrick. What God did through the agonizing pain in my life through the loss of my child was nothing short of miraculous, and it was worth documenting. Besides, I wanted to leave a legacy for my children. I had two more children after Derrick passed away that never had the privilege of knowing their big brother. My son, Travis, was only 7 years old when Derrick died, and I did not want new memories to erase the old ones. He had a big brother named Derrick who loved him immensely. They were two peas in a pod, only two years apart in age. Though I am so grateful that God gave him a resiliency to recover after such tragic loss, it was important to me that he never forget his brother.

After 18 pain-staking months of crying and re-living the horror of losing Derrick at such a young age, I finished my manuscript. I read and revised it many times and finally decided that I would self-publish my book. I had previously heard how often publishers reject manuscripts or want to change them altogether. These were the gut-wrenching words that spilt out of my heart; they represented my pain, and this was my story. No one had the right to change things just to make it sound more “professional.” A few mistakes here and there made it all the more real as I am a real person, with real feelings, real pain, and a true story to tell. After numerous revisions and editing, my book On Eagles Wings: A mother’s story of hope and healing amidst suffering and loss was published and made available for purchase through Amazon.com. I was thrilled beyond words. My hope and prayer was that God would send this book to the right people—those that needed hope and healing. He had been instrumental in bringing me comfort and peace when nothing else could, and I wanted that same comfort for others.

I had always believed in God, but I never really knew Him. I was too busy with life, and I hate to admit that I was as carnal a Christian as they come. I did what I wanted to do and basically lived my life my way. It was void of any sort of meaningful relationship with God. An occasional prayer here and there was all I had time for and all that I was interested in. That is, of course, until Derrick was gone. Out of anguish and desperation I returned to God. I was filled with so many questions. “Why God? How could you let such a young little boy die? What good will ever come out of such loss and pain? Are you punishing me Lord for my sinfulness? What is my purpose in going on? My heart is breaking and I don’t know how to continue living without him.”

Little did I know that my aching spirit was fertile ground for the Lord to get my attention and through immense pain and tears I sought Him. I returned to church, re-dedicated my life to God, and begged for mercy and forgiveness. I knew that my life had not turned out the way God intended. Just one week before my son died, my divorce from his father was finalized. I married my first boyfriend at the age of 18, and now, 11 years later was dissatisfied with my life. I decided I would be better off without him. I was determined to live my life with my young boys in a way that pleased me. My choices hurt God, and they ultimately hurt me. I learned that He is the God of new beginnings, and if His children humbly seek His face, He will forgive and restore them. He did this and so much more for me in the past 20 years. He not only brought me healing, He gave me an indescribable hope for my future and a purpose in my sorrow. That purpose was to reach others who are in the same place I was in so many years ago.

March came and went, and my book was published and distributed to all my close friends and family. I felt so alive inside, like I was doing exactly what I was called to do—bring glory to God through my son’s story. I was given the opportunity to give my testimony on numerous occasions; an article was published about our family and our journey of healing; my new website soaringhigherministry.com was established; and I was asked to join Women’s leadership at church by facilitating Women’s Bible studies. Life was good and I felt empowered by God to do big things for His kingdom. I was having “mountain-top” experiences, and I did not want to come down to the valley. I’m also a realist and I knew that mountain-top experiences were temporary and that we are not intended to live on the mountaintop. It is in the valley where God’s work is to be done. Eventually I made my way down that mountain and into the humdrum of real life again.

Several years ago God had introduced me to two very special ladies, Dee and Ann, who worked as childcare workers at our church. We had frequently exchanged “hellos” and occasional stories about Colorado when I dropped off my daughter into their care to attend Bible studies. Beyond that our relationship was simply cordial. That is until a year before I began writing my book. Dee knew my story and also knew that I intended to write a book sometime in the future. She was the one who continually asked me if I had started it yet. Unfortunately, more often than not, I had to tell her, “No, not yet. But keep asking. I intend to write it one day.” She reminded me every time she saw me, and in some strange way, the more people I told, the more committed I felt to write it. I didn’t realize at the time how much Dee prayed for me. She and her mother committed to being my very own personal “prayer warriors.” They took an interest in me and committed to praying for the urgency and completion of this book. Our friendship began to grow beyond an occasional hello and we began talking on the phone, sharing our faith in God and what He was doing in our lives. We lived about 40 miles apart, and started to visit one another as time allowed. Our friendship was flourishing. It was a different sort of friendship. It was based on a mutual faith in God and excitement arose as we shared how He was working in our lives.

Dee was so happy for me when my book was finally published and one of the first to read it. A few months later during the summer of 2010, she shared with me a disturbing dream she had concerning me. At first she was reluctant to tell me, but she pressed on and told me that she had dreamed that I had developed cancer. To be quite honest, I was somewhat shocked and quickly dismissed her dream. After all, I was the epitome of health. I exercised on a regular basis, my weight was under control, and I felt wonderful. It was just a dream, and I know from experience that the mind does crazy things at times. Sometimes you just dream strange things, and it surely does not mean it will come to pass. She took this dream as a sign from God to start fervently praying for me. I, on the other hand, forgot all about it and continued on with my life.

Just a few months later I found myself watching a taped show of Dr. Oz. I enjoyed hearing about his health based topics as I always felt a little more educated about my health. This particular show was all about colonoscopies. In fact, he had his colonoscopy performed live on TV. Unbeknownst to him, he had a small polyp which was removed on the spot. He made such a big deal about it. Come on, Dr. Oz, it was just a small polyp. He urged the viewers to make their colonoscopy appointments as soon as they turned 50. Yea, I know. It had been 8 months since I had turned 50, but I intended to wait a year or two. After all, I did not look forward to the procedure and surely a year or so would not make much difference. My sister also watched the show and shortly thereafter her husband, who was almost 51, had his colonoscopy. He, too, had several polyps removed. She urged me to make my appointment. I began to get a stirring in my heart that maybe it was time to visit my doctor again. It had been over 2 years since I had any sort of blood work drawn or tests performed. I made the appointment and while there asked my doctor if she knew of any gastroenterologists she could refer me to. She laughed and proceeded to tell me that her husband was a gastroenterologist. Okay, I’ll make an appointment with him.

A few weeks later while lying sedated on the table my eyes suddenly opened during my routine colonoscopy. My eyes fixated on the screen in front of me and through a muffled voice I asked, “What is that growth?” I came to my senses moments later in the recovery room with the doctor explaining to my husband that he discovered a huge polyp and was unable to remove it due to its size and possible excessive bleeding. He scraped off some tissue to have it biopsied and referred me to a colorectal surgeon. I could not believe what was unfolding in front of me. This has got to be some sort of mistake! I am a healthy, fit, 50 year old woman with no pain, no symptoms, and a bright future in front of me. What on earth is happening?

My calendar was cleared for the next 6 weeks of my life for doctors’ visits, embarrassing tests, fear, and fervent prayer. I was consumed with what was growing inside of me. It was called an adenoma and absolutely had to be surgically removed. Although the tissue that was biopsied came back normal, I would not know for certain whether or not this huge adenoma had become cancer-ridden until it was cut out and sent to pathology. A myriad of feelings invaded me. I was a strong Christian so why was fear my constant companion? I discovered that even though I longed to be with my son again and see Jesus face-to-face, I did not want to die yet. I still had work to do. My ministry was just beginning. I found myself questioning God, “What on earth is going on here, Lord?” My fears quickly gave way to prayer. Prayer to God to please give me peace throughout this entire process, and moreover to not let me go through this experience in vain. I asked God to teach me something through this—something about myself or others, or to draw me even closer to Him. I believed in my heart that this “test” that I was going through would only add to my testimony. I believed God for the best outcome, not matter what the prognosis would be, and I surrendered my fears to Him. Believe me, it was a day by day process. I asked everyone I knew for prayer, knowing that God would hear and answer our prayers. I also believed that their prayers to God on my behalf would strengthen me and give me the courage to go forward.

The day of my surgery finally arrived, December 16, 2010. The surgeon would perform a laparoscopic anterior resection wherein one foot of my colon along with the adenoma would be permanently cut out. I would remain in the hospital for 4 nights and recovery would be 4-6 weeks. I had peace in my heart, and I know it was due to all the prayers offered on my behalf. When I awoke I was in excruciating pain, but so grateful that the procedure was behind me. My only focus now was to follow the doctor’s orders and allow my body to heal. Everything else was out of my hands. I was grateful that I would be home in time for Christmas.

Every day was better than the one before and 3 days post-surgery, I was able to walk, albeit slow, and the discomfort was minimal and tolerable. On December 20th I went home to recover. There is truly no place like home. Although I knew it would be difficult to not start cooking, cleaning, and moving around, I needed to slow down so my body could begin its healing process. Lifting anything over 10 pounds was out of the question, so I would allow myself to be pampered for a little while. My family was very helpful as were the many friends who brought meals. God’s love and care was so very evident.

The day before Christmas Eve I received the call I had been waiting for. It was from my surgeon with results from the pathology report. He informed me that my adenoma was benign. “Praise God!” I quickly blurted into the phone. I asked him if this growth would have turned into cancer. “Absolutely. It was a pre-cancerous adenoma.” I then asked him if he had any idea how long it may have taken. He said, “Maybe a year.” I thanked him for the call and wished him a Merry Christmas. As I hung up the phone a surge of emotion came over me. I cried and I laughed as I was filled with such relief and joy. As the day went on I pondered how different this could have all turned out. In fact, I am still pondering. Through a series of divine interventions, God rescued me from potential disease and death. Does God still speak in dreams? You bet He does! The dream He gave my friend Dee initiated prayer on my behalf. The urgency that He alone put in my heart after watching Dr. Oz and speaking to my sister finally gave me courage to go forward with the colonoscopy. The many people who prayed for my healing are now all witnesses to a God who is good; a God who heals our diseases; and a God who mysteriously, but actively moves in our lives if we but take the time to look and listen.

And the request I had made to God to please use this experience to teach me something about myself, others, or Him? Well, He poured into my heart a fresh compassion for the sick, for those with diseases, and for those with very real fears. My job is to pray for them, for as the Bible says, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16 Today is Christmas Eve and I have received my very own Christmas miracle. It is the gift of life. Every day that God grants us here on earth is His gift to us. What we do with that day is our gift back to Him. The year 2010 may have started out filled with excitement and anticipation, but I can honestly say that through this recent experience it is ending even better than it began. God is not finished with me yet, and until He calls me home, I will do my very best to live out the rest of my days with a renewed passion for His glory. For He is truly my Christmas miracle.

Power of Prayer

Have you ever wondered if your prayers truly matter in the big scheme of things? How often have you told someone you would pray for them and then totally forgot to do so? I have been guilty of both wondering and forgetting. God has been showing me a lot about prayer lately. First of all, that praying IS a big thing, and that it DOES matter. And that He hears every thing we ask, and He is moved to compassion on behalf of our prayers for others.

I myself have been the recipient of powerful prayer lately. I know, without a doubt, that many, many prayers were offered unto God on my behalf. The last 6 weeks of my life have been filled with confusion, fear, and uncertainty. When a routine colonoscopy revealed that my colon contained a huge adenoma (polyp) that had to be surgically removed, I was dumbfounded. I was always the epitome of great health. I could not understand why this was happening. After all, I was having such a great year. A few months previously, my memoir was published, I had given numerous testimonies of God’s healing in my life, and I was filled with a holy passion and desire to fulfill the purposes He created me for. This certainly seemed like some kind of mistake. Or at the very least, a “divine interruption,” as my pastor would call it.

During these weeks, I have prayed longer and more fervently for physical healing than ever before. My health and God’s healing was foremost on my mind. I tried hard to just “Leave it with Jesus.” Day after day I would find myself having to trust again and leave my fears and concerns at the foot of the cross. After waiting for seven long days, I found out that the adenoma biopsy did not appear to be cancerous. Praise God! I had to undergo a few more very embarrassing tests which revealed that the only way this “thing” in body could be removed would be through a laparoscopic anterior resection. In other words, a foot of my colon would be cut out. As I prepared myself mentally and physically for this surgery, a peace began to fill my soul. The power of intercessory prayer was at work on my behalf.

The morning before my surgery my thoughts turned to Jesus, my Savior. Even though I still had some angst about the entire procedure, for once I thought not about myself, but about the suffering He endured on the day He was crucified for me and you. There was no anesthesia or morphine for Him. No, He walked that agonizing path of pain all alone for us. I cannot even begin to fathom the intense anguish that filled His soul that evening in the Garden of Gethsemane. He said, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” Matthew 26:37. He sweat drops of blood over what was to take place later that day. He sought out His Father and prayed fervently for this cup to be taken from Him. Then He prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” Matthew 26:42. He knew exactly what awaited Him--the humiliation, the pain, the torture, and the isolation. Not even His disciples would stay awake and pray for Him. How utterly alone He must have felt.

As I thought of what the Lord endured for me, I gained strength. I knew that He was not asking anything of me that He would not enable me to handle. Besides, He has given me a wonderful family and friends to support me. Best of all, He’s assured me that He would never leave me nor forsake me. He would be with me through it all. I believed Him. I asked God to use this experience to teach me something new and to draw me closer to Him. The surgery is all behind me. I am at home now slowly recovering. In His faithfulness, He has shown me the tremendous power of and privilege of intercessory prayer. I am forever grateful to all those who boldly went before the throne of grace on my behalf for my healing. I am thankful to the friends who came before my surgery to pray for my strength. I am thankful for those who visited me in the hospital, held my hands, and prayed over me. I am thankful to the others who used modern day technology and prayed to God while we are on the telephone. And I am thankful to those who silently whispered their prayers to God. Prayer unleashes the power of God. And this time around, I was the thankful recipient.

There are a few things I have learned about intercessory prayer.
1. God commands us to pray for others.
2. God’s power is unleashed on their behalf when we pray.
3. We pray for others out of love for them and out of love for God.

Don’t ever think for a moment that your prayers don’t matter. They do. They don’t have to be long and eloquent either. They can be simple, yet heartfelt. I have found one of the best ways to pray over others is to pray Scripture. Just insert their name and remind God of His promises. For instance, "Lord, you promise that you will cause all things together to work for good for (insert name). I pray that you would strengthen my friend according to the riches of your glory, with power through Your Spirit in her inner person, so that Christ may dwell in her heart through faith."

Can you commit to praying for just one person for a few minutes each day? It can be your spouse, your children, a friend in need, or someone you don’t even know. Your prayers will make all the difference in the world. It may not change their situation, but God can change their outlook or attitude. Remember, that He may not always answer in the way we desire, but He will answer in His way and in His time—Always. God is the only One who is all-sufficient and can supply the deepest needs in seemingly impossible situations. For truly nothing is impossible with God.

Next time God brings someone to your mind out of the clear blue, pray for that person by name. There is no coincidence that they are so strongly on your mind. They may need prayer. Our prayers move God deeply. He always listens, and He always answers. He promises.

“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let Him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.” James 5:13-14

“The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16

“With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27

“Then the Lord answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.” 2 Samuel 24:25

.”…then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.” 1 Kings 8:49

“This is what the Lord, the God of your father David says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you.” 2 Kings 20:5

Fear Not

There is no emotion known to man as debilitating as fear. Fear causes panic, dread, fright and apprehension and produces a stressful reaction to the body. It has a paralyzing effect as it renders one unable to think logically or act intelligently. It has a mind of its very own and can lead to a downward spiral very quickly. The opposite of fear is peace. Where fear causes trepidation and angst, peace offers a still calmness and tranquility.

True peace is a gift from God. It is total well-being and inner rest of spirit, no matter what your circumstances may be. Jesus’ peace is real and present and the only antidote to a troubled heart. Have you ever taken notice how many times in the Bible Jesus commands us not to be troubled or afraid? God knew that left to ourselves we would wallow in self-pity and be consumed by fear. Yet He also provided us with everything we need to overcome this fear—Faith. Our faith in Jesus’ ability to rescue us from the storms of life is what overcomes our fears.

Fear has been a part of mankind from the very beginning. Fear crept into humans after the serpent tempted Adam and Eve to sin. In Chapter 3 of Genesis when God was calling to Adam and Eve, Adam answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” In Deuteronomy 1 when the spies were sent out to look over the land that the Lord was giving the Israelites, God commanded them not to be afraid or discouraged. In Joshua 1:9 again God commanded the Israelites to be strong and courageous and not to be terrified or discouraged for He Himself would be with them wherever they went. In Matthew 8 when the disciples were in the boat with Jesus and the furious storm came upon them, they were filled with fear. After they awakened Jesus He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Later when they saw Jesus walking on the water they were again terrified and thought they saw a ghost. Jesus immediately told them to take courage and not to be afraid (Matthew 14:29). At another time when Jesus was speaking to a crowd, some men came from the house of Jairus, a synagogue ruler, and told him that his daughter was dead. Ignoring what they said, Jesus told Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe!” (Mark 5:35-36)

I believe all these Biblical stories were preserved as examples to not allow fear to overtake and consume us. Psalm 56:3 confirms that in this world we will have fears. When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. It does not say, if I am afraid, it says when I am afraid. In other words, we will have moments when we are afraid. Tom Holladay, a pastor of Saddleback Church says, "We may want a life of no fears, but that only happens in heaven. In this life we're all going to face fears of one kind or another." At this time in my life that is very reassuring to me as I have been facing my own fears about my impending surgery. I have come to learn that when we become fearful, we must immediately focus our eyes on Jesus and let Him fight our battles for us. Prayer is God’s prescription for our troubled and fearful hearts. When we pray it takes the focus off of us and onto God. The more we pray, the more we experience God’s peace. The ironic thing is that Jesus Himself said that in this world we will have troubles, but He also said that we are to take heart, for He has overcome the world. When we are worried and anxious, we must pray. When we find ourselves becoming angry or bitter, we must pray. When we are fearful, we must go to God in prayer. In fact, we should go to God in prayer over everything and often. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7.

When we cast our cares upon Jesus, something supernatural occurs. We become filled with a peace that truly surpasses all understanding. How wonderful to know that we are loved and tenderly taken care of by the God who created the Universe, and to know that we are His prized possessions, the apple of His eye. Anything that concerns us, concerns Him. Furthermore, He is the One who holds the entire Universe in His hands and can do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ever ask or imagine. He asks us to allow our faith in Him to overcome any fears that we have. I believe that coming to His throne room of grace in authentic worship and prayer is what moves God to act on our behalf. He delights in giving His children blessings and peace. "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him." Matthew 7:11

When you pray, don’t forget to add thanksgiving to your conversation with God. When you add thankfulness, especially during difficult times, you are praying a “by faith” prayer. By faith, you believe that God is who He says He is, that His Word is true, and that He will cause all things to work for good for those who love him. Thankfulness moves beyond what you may “feel” to acknowledge God’s behind-the-scenes work in the world and in your life regardless of what you may visibly see. Sometimes His work is apparent and visible; sometimes it is not. Thankfulness acknowledges that no matter what the outcome, you believe that He is able and that He is good—all of the time.

Next time fear begins to rear its ugly head, cast your burdens on the Lord and immediately lay them at the foot of the cross. Remember that overcoming fears may involve a process, and is not necessarily automatic, especially if you feel the fear coming back. The enemy of your soul, Satan, wants you to remain fearful and will try everything he can to keep you anxious, worried, and frightened. Remain steadfast and don't give up, but keep bringing your concerns and fears to the Lord through honest prayer and petition. Fill your mind with the perfect Word of God and then allow Yahweh Shalom, the Lord of Peace, to bestow on you His divine favor and fill you with His perfect peace. He will do it, for He who promised is faithful.

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Isaiah 43:1-3

Peace I leave you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid. John 14:27

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7

Divine Opportunities

Trials are but opportunities to draw us closer to God. Why is it we shrink from them every single time? When we become uncomfortable with our circumstances we quickly need to find someone to blame and too often God gets the blame. We envision Him punishing us or allowing these difficulties just to wreak havoc on our lives. Then we begin to question our faith. Does God truly love us? After all, why would a loving God allow such pain, suffering, and hardships to come upon us?

In our humanness, we want security and comfort, and there is nothing wrong with that. But we often fail to realize that when things are relatively easy, we get a little too comfortable. “Happy” times do not have near the capacity to change us or draw us closer to God as do “unhappy” times. For reasons known only to God, it is primarily through the hardships and difficulties of life that our character is transformed. Think back on your own life. Although wonderful times may evoke a happy memory, have they really “changed” you for the better? Now think back at a hardship you have gone through. Maybe a difficult relationship tested you to the limit and caused you to seek after God as never before. Maybe you overcame a severe or debilitating illness that gave you a new perspective on life. These are the types of experiences that “grow” us into something larger. They cause us to leave our cozy comfort zones and go places we would not normally desire to go. Our human nature always wants the easy way, the best things, and the quickest routes. For example, we want great health yet often are unwilling to put forth the effort to exercise or eat healthfully. We want the best jobs earning the highest salaries, the newest technological gadgets and material possessions, and even the most satisfying relationships to make our lives relatively easy. We are living in an era of instant gratification. We also desire the quickest possible methods and steps to obtain the greatest results—30 minute meals, 30 minute workouts, 7 steps to a greater life. We frown at long lines in grocery stores and heaven forbid we get caught in a detour while in our vehicles. These little idiosyncrasies all add up to stressors that tip us over the edge!

While there is absolutely nothing wrong with desiring optimal health, nice things, and wonderful friendships, we must guard against becoming negative and faithless when things don’t seem to go the way we planned. The biggest tragedy could very well be allowing the unpleasant circumstances of our lives to cause us to lose our focus. Easier said than done, right? When things get out of balance in our lives we tend to obsess about what is not going right, and forget about all the things that are right. I myself am guilty! It usually takes several days of inward-centeredness before I realize that I am not doing myself any good whatsoever. In fact, inward focus only makes me feel worse. Not until I start to look outside of my little sphere and upward to God that I begin to feel any sense of peace. Then I wonder why it took me so long to focus on Him instead of myself.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1. This psalm tells us that God is with us in our troubles. He does not leave us to figure things out for ourselves. In Psalm 92, He promises to deliver us and honor us. But I do believe that He requires us to come to Him in childlike faith and stop being restless and fretful about all that concerns us. We must refuse to regard these trials as difficulties, but look at them as divine opportunities—opportunities to draw even closer to Jesus and grow into His likeness. It is only when God has deepened us, often through the struggles of life, that He can give us His deeper truths, His profoundest secrets, and His mightiest trusts. Jesus continually beckons us to come and rest in Him and He shall strengthen us. When we abandon ourselves to Him, we will receive the peace of Christ which surpasses all understanding.

I do believe that God uses our troubles to teach us valuable lessons. He teaches us about His faithfulness and goodness and asks us to trust that He will work all things for our good. A.B. Simpson said, “There are two ways of getting out of a trial. One is to simply try to get rid of it as quickly as possible and then be thankful when it is over. The other is to recognize the trial as a challenge from God to claim a larger blessing than we have ever had, and to hail it with delight as an opportunity of obtaining a larger measure of divine grace.” In other words, the very things that seem to be against us actually turn out to be for the furtherance of our way.

So, the next time you go through a testing of some kind, remember that now is the time for you to claim all of God’s promises and walk forward in faith and assurance that He is able to do immeasurably more than you can ever ask or imagine. Everything that concerns you concerns Him, and He promises to work all things out for your good.

Not always OUT of our troublous times,
And the struggles fierce and grim,
But IN—deeper IN—to our sure rest,
The place of our peace, In Him.
Annie Johnson Flint

My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in your weakness. 2 Cor 12:9

The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me. Psalm 138:8

In repentance and rest is our salvation; in quietness and trust is our strength. Isaiah 30:15

Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3

Taken Aside

Taken Aside

There are times in every Christian’s life when his circumstances warrant a question of the Almighty. “What in the world are you up to, Lord? Why is this happening to me and what do you want me to do about it?” No matter how strong you are in the faith, trials and testings will still come. Personally, I am going through one such test right now. After a routine medical procedure, it was discovered that I need to undergo major surgery. While thrilled beyond words that my mass is not cancerous, the reality of what is coming my way is very frightening. I consider myself strong in the faith, yet I must confess that on numerous occasions my emotions have taken on a life of their very own. Confusion, fear, and bewilderment have been constant companions. But so have peace, comfort, and acceptance. Does my faith seem any less genuine if I ask God why He is allowing me to go through this trial? I think not. I have learned over the years that God is indeed a big God and can handle anything I ask of Him. He knows that we are still flesh and blood, weak and wounded, and vulnerable and needy. In fact, I believe He lovingly approves when we come to Him in humility seeking mercy for our every need.

As I pondered on the challenges and trials that come to all of us as earthly inhabitants, God reminded me that He uses these difficult times to grow our faith in ways that nothing else does. I have been so busy lately—totally preoccupied with my very own “to do” list. Many of these are good things, some are urgent, and they demand my utmost attention. God has His own list of things too that He wants to accomplish through me, and yet I realize that there has been little time in my full life to give heed to the more important things. Isn’t it ironic that the urgent always wins over the important? So I had to ask myself, “Could it be that God is shutting me up to faith? Is He allowing some great challenge to isolate me once again unto Himself so that I can fully listen to His soft, still voice? Is He trying to give me a fresh revelation of Himself and remind me of the purposes He has created me for?" My devotions today led me to Mark 7:33, the story of Jesus healing the deaf and mute man. For the first time ever, I noticed that Jesus took him aside, away from the crowd, before he healed him. If Jesus chose to heal this man privately, then surely being isolated unto God by whatever means He chooses can be a very good thing!

I believe if we look with the eyes of faith we will see God in every single challenge and situation. Every sickness, every loss, every sorrow, and every disease has to pass through the hands of our loving Father. He does not willingly bring or cause His children heartache, but at times He does allow it. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him who have been called according to His purpose.”

Moses was sent away to live for 40 years in the wilderness before He was prepared to do God’s work. He was an 80 year old, faith-filled man before God was ready for him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Paul and Silas, zealous for God, were locked up in prison with their feet in stocks waiting expectantly for deliverance. Even in their darkest hours, in the solitude of their captivity, they sang praises to God. The aging disciple John was exiled to the Isle of Patmos where he was left to die. Yet it was in this isolated place where he received the glorious visions of God, and thereafter wrote the book of Revelation. During these seemingly dark and confusing times God was mightily at work. Their faith was being tested and proved genuine as they expectantly waited for God to work on their behalf. I believe that is our solution also. Rather than continuously question why these things are happening to us, why not expend our energy by renewing our focus on Jesus? We must always remember that He remains in control, no matter how out of control our lives may seem. May we look for the hand of God in all our circumstances, and then fix our eyes on Jesus in full assurance that He is actively interceding on our behalf. He promises to never leave or forsake us. We must continue to believe that He indeed is working all things together for our good, and that there will be blessings and deeper revelations of God that will come to us as well as others that never could have otherwise. Our job is to surrender all of our cares to Him and trust Him wholeheartedly. He can handle the rest.

"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:13-14

"The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song." Psalm 28:7

Ready, Willing and Able

Have you ever felt like God was waiting for you to do something for Him but have held off doing so because of your own insecurities or fears? One of your many excuses may sound like this: “Why would God want to use me to do something big for His kingdom when He could use ‘so and so’ who is much more talented than I am?” Or, “I just don’t have that kind of time and energy. Lord.” There is an entire myriad of possibilities that could keep you from moving forward in the direction God desires for you. You may not have even given much thought to what God wants to do through you. Before you get down on yourself remember that even Moses did that. When God appointed Him to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, he did nothing but make excuses to God for why he was not equipped to do such a monumental task. But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:11. The problem is that he forgot that the One who called Him would also be the One to equip him. Even after God told Moses that He would be with him and gave him numerous signs like burning bushes, staffs being turned into snakes, and his hand becoming leprous, Moses still had his doubts. What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, “The Lord did not appear to you?” Exodus 4:1. He was looking inward at his own inadequacy and inability, but God was looking for his availability.

I believe that God does that same thing with His children today. He has called each one of us to be His ambassadors to a broken, hurting, and lost world, and even though we truly believe that He is the Christ, the Messiah, the Redeemer, we often fail to participate in the Great Commission. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave His disciples the command to “Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Like Moses, Isaiah was also commissioned by God to preach repentance to Israel and Judah, as well as the impending doom, deliverance and restoration of Israel. Can you imagine the opposition he would encounter with such a message? Yet we’re told in Isaiah 6:8-9 that he told the Lord to send him. Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Unlike Moses, Isaiah was bold for the Lord. He was ready to accept God’s invitation to join Him in going and doing things that in his own strength he could not do. On the other hand, Moses told the Lord he was slow of speech and begged him to please send someone else. “O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue…O Lord, please send someone else to do it.” Exodus 4:10-13. Even though the Lord became angry at Moses, He was willing to allow his brother Aaron to accompany him. I love how gracious the Lord was to Moses, but He still insisted that Moses would be the one through whom God would speak. “You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth. I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do.” Exodus 4:15.

This story gives me the courage to move forward when fear or my own insecurities take hold of me. I know in my mind that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. The question is, “Do I believe that in my heart?” This is where the rubber hits the road and where truth faith comes in. It does not matter if it is a leap of faith or just one small step of faith, the question remains, “What is God commissioning You to do?” Faith as defined in Hebrews 11:1 is “being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see.” If you could see it with your own eyes, then it probably would not be faith. Faith must be released in order to grow. How do you release your faith? First and foremost, through prayer. Second, by expectantly believing, and third, by doing. Pray to God and ask Him to reveal to you what He is calling you to do at this stage in your life. Maybe it is simply to forgive someone who hurt you. Maybe it is the patience to wait for an answer from Him or maybe it is a more definitive action. Then believe that it shall come to pass. Expectantly look for opportunities knowing in your heart that if God calls you, He will also equip you. When you believe it is time to act or move forward, then confidently do so, knowing that He is the one empowering you and making you competent as a minister of a new covenant (2 Cor 3:6).

What good is it if you keep your Christianity to yourself? Most of the world is lost and hurting, and God wants you to participate in the joy of seeing others come to faith in Christ. What could be more satisfying than to be available and partner with Him in bringing comfort or help to someone in need? One more thing—don’t ever belittle or compare your calling. You may not be called to evangelize by standing behind a pulpit and preaching, but you are evangelizing every time you bring a smile to a hurting soul, feed the hungry, start a ministry, clothe the orphan, love the widow, listen attentively, or give to the needy. This doesn’t necessarily involve monetary funds either. But it will cost you something. It will be sacrificial because it may cost you your time, your special talents and abilities, or something else that is valuable to you. This is an investment that will be well worth it for you will be investing in something eternal—the souls of many others.

Now, are you ready, willing, and able to get out of your comfort zone for Christ and a lost world? Come on, let’s go…we have work to do.

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” 2 Cor 2:14-15

“Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.” 2 Cor 3:4-5

"We are Christ's ambassadors as though God were making His appeal through us." 2 Cor 5:20