Run to the Giant

 

I have just finished listening to an audio book, written by a Pastor after the sudden death of his five-year-old daughter. In the book he talks about how his family was faced with terrible pain but was able to find amazing power through Christ.

In one part of the book, he mentions a young David (pre his king days), facing a literal giant, Goliath, in the valley of Elah. (I Samuel 17)

The reminder of this famous story in the Bible brought to mind something I wrote four years ago, and I want to share some of that with you in hopes that I can encourage you to face whatever giant is standing in your way.

I don’t know who needs to hear this today, but I pray that the Lord will speak to you personally and God will give you the courage you so desperately need.

It was early morning, as I sat by the ocean, watching the waves wash up on the shore. A beautiful, cool sea breeze was blowing and there was no sound apart from the noise the water made as it rippled across the sand, leaving bubbles in its wake. There was the occasional song of a bird calling as it flew by.

I had come down to the beach early, to get alone with the Lord and pray about the lesson I was going to be teaching to a group of ladies in only a matter of hours. I was struggling with doubt and worry. Yes, I had prepared what I thought God would have me teach, but upon meeting the group I would be teaching, I began to have doubts about whether or not the words the Lord had given me were actually what He would have me say.

I began to pray earnestly, and I sought the scriptures for encouragement and assurance that I was heading in the direction the Lord would have me go. I was so unsure. I began to doubt myself. I began to doubt my ability to speak.

 Who was I to think that I could speak to a group of ladies of every age, and from vastly different backgrounds? What could I possibly have to teach them that they hadn’t already heard? What about those present who seemed to be unteachable and that I sensed a hardness from? What about those who had walked with the Lord for far longer than I? Would I be able to explain my points effectively? Would they be able to learn something from what God had given me to teach? Would they even listen?

In effect, I had taken my eyes off the Lord and started focusing on the circumstances and the people around me. Never a wise thing to do. Remember Peter?

Matthew 14:29-31 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

As soon as Peter took his eyes off the Lord and looked at the waves, he began to sink. And the Lord rebuked him for his lack of faith.

My doubting was a lack of faith. So, as I sat there, praying earnestly for the Lord to come through for me and give me peace in my heart, I opened up the Bible app on my phone to read some words of comfort.

It’s strange how God works in mysterious ways, because every time I tried to open my Bible app and find the verse I was searching for, the app crashed. This happened at least 5 times. And each and every time, without fail, it would open up to the same passage. And it was not even the passage I had been searching for.

Obviously, I’m a slow learner, so the Lord had to do it a few times before I realised that maybe, just maybe (there I go, doubting again), God had something in this passage that I needed to hear.

Here is the passage that my Bible app kept opening to.

Deuteronomy 1:28-30 Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there. Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them. The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes;

Wow! Talk about God making it clear! I needed the Lord to fight for me as I felt so incapable of teaching the lesson I had prepared. But God knew that it was exactly what I was supposed to teach and that I just needed a little push and a little reminder that he would be with me. 

Of course, I couldn’t do it in my own strength. I needed his help. And I needed to be reminded that he would lead and guide as I taught, and that he would put the words in my mouth that needed to be said. All my hours of study amounted to nothing if I didn’t rely on him and his power to go before me.

I didn’t need to be afraid of the waves. The Lord would go before me if I kept my gaze wholly upon him. If I just trusted him to speak for me.

I prayed and cried to God to increase my faith and to guide and direct every word that would come out of my mouth.

My first thought was to text my mum and share this profound revelation with her. (What a blessing to have Godly mothers in our lives that rejoice with us and always have a timely word of comfort or advice).

And just as I expected, not only was she happy for the peace I had found, but she had a precious word of wisdom that has stayed with me to this day.

She told me to “Run to the Giant”. Simple as that.

Just as David did when he took on the insurmountable task of killing Goliath, when all others were too afraid, David did something amazing. He ran to the giant.

Read the passage with me.

1 Samuel 17:48-49 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

Firstly, it was incredible that David was willing to face the giant at all! He was a simple shepherd, not a man of war like his brothers, just a simple shepherd on an errand from his father.

But what is so impressive about David was the fact that he “hasted, and ran toward” Goliath.

He was sprinting toward what seemed like certain death. Crazy, right? I’m sure his heart was beating fast and there was a hint of fear inside him, but he didn’t let that fear control him.

It’s okay to fear and feel afraid, but we have to push on with the assurance that God is with us, and fear doesn’t own us and need not have any control over us.

David had some pretty brave words to say to the giant. If I was in his place, I don’t think I could be as bold as he was with his courageous statement.

1 Samuel 17:45-47 KJV - Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.

David ran towards his giant. He ran towards the giant that terrified the whole army that day. He didn’t cower in fear, he didn’t hesitate, stopping only to arm himself with a few stones plucked from a brook, he ran towards the giant.

And we know the end of the story, the Lord came through and what an amazing victory it was. Not only for the army of Israel, but for David himself. He had trusted the Lord and God had proved to him once again, his power and might and awesomeness. David added another story of victory to his arsenal, empowering him to keep pushing forward and giving him the courage he would need in the years to come.

The Lord came through. And the Lord can come through for you.

No matter how far removed the possibility of success seems from our vantage point, God will come through. And God doesn’t just come through for the mighty, he comes through for all of us. The broken, the hurting, the weak, the sick, the fearful and the doubters.

Whether God is calling you to a ministry you feel unequipped for, or whether he wants you to speak to that co-worker about their eternal destiny. Whether your giant is a pregnancy that has you worrying whether or not you can be a good mother, or whether you fear being able to homeschool your children well. Whether the interstate move you plan to make with your family has you doubting and afraid, or whether your decision to leave your current church to attend another is holding you back. Whatever it is, God is with you, and you can face it as David faced Goliath. With absolute trust and faith in God, you too can run towards your giant.

That day on the beach, as I doubted my calling, God came through for me. He gave me encouragement through his Word and then through his people. God often brings people into our lives to help encourage us to keep on the path God has us on. They cheer us on and bring words of wisdom to help strengthen our tired arms, lift our weary heads and turn our eyes back onto the Lord Jesus.

If you have giants in your life today, then run to them! Don’t be afraid to do what God is calling you to do. If he is calling you to do it, then he will equip you for it. When God called David towards his giant, he equipped him for the task.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 KJV - Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

I can’t tell you what God’s will is for your life. God has a specific story that he is writing for each and every one of us and we have to step out in faith, obeying him and following his light, putting one foot after another with a heart of trust.

All I can tell you is that you mustn’t let fear play a part in your decisions. It’s not brave to feel no fear, it’s brave to feel fear and push on anyway.

Yes, running towards your giant may feel daunting, painful, scary and there are days when you want to turn and run the other way. But only by facing our giants do we grow stronger. By seeing God win the battles for us, as we step out in faith, we are able to add another victory to our growing list that will hold us in good stead in days to come when once again fear arises.

As the author put it, “When you live a life of faith, there are going to be questions that have no answers, because for there to be faith, there has to be mystery. That’s just life in the deep end. It would be nice if we could have the safety of the shore and the potential of the open ocean at the same time, but that’s not how it works. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

If you want to defeat giants, you have to run towards them and take them on with the help of God’s almighty power. You may think you’re running alone, but God is keeping pace with you and he is right there should you fall.

I was able to teach my lesson that day without the fear of man, without doubt and with a faith in God that he would not let his Word return void.

Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

I was taught a valuable lesson in faith and trust that day. God showed me that although I may doubt my own talents and abilities, he is able to uphold and strengthen me when I am at my weakest. He is able to use me, despite my failings, fumblings and fears to accomplish things for him and bring glory to his name.

He is able to give my legs strength and my arms power as I run towards the giants in my life, and he is right there beside me as I lop off the head and hold it high singing God’s praises for all to hear!

 

Run to the giant!

 

Psalm 34:17 The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commands and Promises

During my quiet time this morning, I was writing out some verses on the subject of testings and trials and God’s promises to be with us. As I began to write the verses found in Hebrews 13:5,6 I noticed something I had overlooked before.

Hebrews 13:5 KJV - Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

The writer of Hebrews challenges readers with the command to be content with what we have.

What struck me was how often I have quoted the last part of the verse without giving thought to what precedes it.

I love to claim that promise that God will never leave me or forsake me. And what a beautiful promise it is.

But I thought to myself, “How odd that it comes directly after a seemingly random phrase about covetousness and contentment.”

And so, I read the whole chapter, trying to discern the context of the statement.

Not having studied Hebrews in depth before, it seemed to me that chapters 12 and 13 were almost a list of directions or instructions for how we are to behave.

We are told to persevere and endure chastening (Heb. 12:3-13). We are encouraged to be at peace with others (Heb. 12:14). We are told to love our brothers and sisters in Christ and show hospitality to strangers (Heb. 13:1,2). We are to care for those who are being mistreated (Heb. 13:3).

It is against this backdrop that we come to chapter 13 verse 5. In addition to all these instructions, we are told to live our lives without covetousness. We are commanded to be content.

I realised that we really need the first part of this verse as the second part forms the reason for our contentment.

Yes, it’s a beautiful promise that the Lord will never leave us or forsake us, but we need to remember the command that comes before it.

We are told to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and his provision for us. Because of God’s grace, we can learn to be content with what God gives us.

Promises are often preceded by commands in the Bible and all too often, we skip over the command on our way to the promise. But God expects obedience from his children, and just as an earthly parent may place conditions on receiving a reward, God too places conditions on his children, longing for them to obey and enjoy the blessings he sends.

 

Commands and promises

Trust in the Lord – and he will guide (Prov. 3:5,6)

Draw close to God – he will draw close to you (Jam. 4:8)

Seek God first – he will provide (Matt. 6:33)

Trust in the Lord – you will bring forth fruit (Jer. 17:8)

Delight in the Lord – he will give you what you need (Ps. 37:4)

Don’t be anxious – God will bring peace (Phil. 4:6,7)

I think this verse in Hebrews is trying to tell us that instead of trusting in our riches or in material possessions, which will ultimately fail us, we, as believers, should place our hope in God, who promises to never leave us or forsake us. He won’t abandon us. Our riches and our material possessions will abandon us. They will fail. We all know that money can be here one day and gone the next. But God keeps his promises and when he says he will stay beside us, he means it.

So, why can we be content? Why can we live our lives without covetousness? We are able to do this because God has promised that he will always be there.

Friends come and go. Relationships fail. Family members pass on. This world is constantly changing, and the promise that God will never leave, and he will never change is such an encouragement to the soul.

This promise was first given to Israel and Joshua before they entered the Promised Land.

Deuteronomy 31:6 KJV - Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

And then Moses reminded Joshua of it again in verse 8.

Joshua’s daunting task of taking the Promised Land seemed impossible, but with the Lord’s help, it was possible, because he would not forsake his people.

There are many other references to this promise in the Bible.

Jacob (Genesis 28:15)

Joshua (Joshua 1:5,9)

Solomon (1 Chronicles 28:20)

The poor and needy (Isaiah 41:17)

This verse in Hebrews is a reminder that we shouldn’t trust in riches, we should be content with what we have, because God is with his children forever and our trust should be in him alone.

The Greek word for forsake in this verse has the idea of being completely abandoned, deserted or left alone. God promises never to do this to his children.

And it is with this promise in mind that we can learn to be satisfied with God’s provisions. We don’t have to fret and worry over what we have or don’t have. We don’t need to be obsessing over what others have and constantly wishing for more.

We have the promise that God will be with us, and he will supply our needs. He will make sure we have what he knows we need. Notice I didn’t say, what we want. BIG difference.

God wants to give us what will make us conform to his image. Not the image of something or someone we have in our minds. No. His image.

Even when we are struggling through a dark time, or a time where we sense we are lacking the things we need, God is still faithful. God is still good. He is providing what we need in order that we will grow and become more like him.

God’s eternal promise that he will never leave us is not only comforting but it also gives us courage to walk the Christian life. Because God will never leave us or forsake us, we can live unafraid.

In Hebrews 13:6, God follows up on his promise with this statement.

Hebrews 13:6 KJV - So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Here we have another quote from the Old Testament.

Psalm 118:6 KJV - The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

God is the helper who protects and provides for his chosen people.

Just like Joshua was emboldened by God-given courage to complete his task, we too can be strengthened by the promise that God is on our side, and we don’t have to fear what others do to us or say about us.

Can I encourage you, the next time you come across the phrase, “he will never leave you or forsake you”, remember the first part of the verse and do a mental check on your contentment level.

Are you struggling with covetousness or discontentment? What is it that is keeping you in your pit of despair? Is it possible that you have forgotten the promise while you were busy disobeying the command?

Learn to be content.

Contentment is not found in ‘things’. True contentment lies in having faith in God, that whatever he chooses to do in our lives, whatever he chooses to give us, or not give us, is according to his perfect will and we should put our trust in him and be content that he is working for our good.

As you go about your day, think of things that you can be thankful for. Jot down the blessings as they come. Take time to think over your day and write down the things you’re grateful for. No matter what kind of a day you’ve had, how crazy it’s been, how frustrated you’ve felt, there is always something to be thankful for. Even if you just cry out to God in praise that the day is over, and you made it through!

Hebrews 13:5 KJV - Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Be content FOR he promises to never leave you or forsake you.

The reason for your contentment is the blessing of the promise.

Matthew 28:20b …”lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Were you expecting to find it?

 

Many years ago, I came across this short piece of writing, and it sits in the recesses of my memory coming to mind quite frequently, especially when I’m praying for something that seems impossible.

“Many a ship passes in the night,

touching at our wharf with the precious freight

which we have been praying for,

but we are not there to receive it.

Many a dove comes to our window from the

weltering waste of waters;

but we are too immersed in other things to notice its light tap.

We pray, but we do not wait;

we ask, but we do not expect to receive;

we knock, but we are gone before the door is opened.”  F.B.Meyer

How many times are we guilty of praying a specific prayer, then walking away and forgetting all about it? We don't stay at the foot of the cross, holding out our hands expectantly, waiting for God to grant the request with his abundance. Instead, we get discouraged, we doubt God's goodness, his provision, his protection. We go our way and while we're gone, the answer comes, but “we are gone before the door is opened.”

The story is told of a little girl who announced to her mother one sunny morning, “I’m going to pick some flowers in the woods. Do you want to join me?” It was an unlikely time of year for there to be any wildflowers in the woods, but this mother realised the importance of spending time with her daughter, and so, with basket in hand, off they went in search of the brightly coloured blooms.

As they walked through the woods, they spotted moss and mushrooms, vines and leaves. But not a single flower.

The mother assuming that there were no blooms to be found casually began picking up acorns instead.

The daughter, on the other hand, was undeterred. She looked under every bush, peered around trees, peeked under logs and searched through the leaves on the forest floor.

But her basket remained empty.

Just as they were nearing the trail’s end, the mother heard an excited squeal. She turned to see her little girl gleefully skipping through the grass and dropping to her knees in a beautiful spray of purple wildflowers.

“How did I walk right past these?”, the mother wondered aloud as her daughter filled her basket with the fresh blossoms.

With the insight and wisdom of someone much older, her daughter calmly replied, “You didn’t see the flowers because you weren’t expecting to find any.”

How often do I find myself in this mother’s shoes? Guilty of not finding anything because I wasn’t expecting to find anything. Guilty of praying without expectation of an answer.

I stand on the wharf, gazing out into the darkness of the sea, lifting up a prayer to God, and then I turn and walk away. With a shrug of my shoulders, and a sigh, I think to myself, “God won’t answer that prayer. It’s too small. It’s too large. It’s too hard. It’s not worth his time.”

And away I walk, not content to wait a little longer, to pray a little harder, to persevere in holy desperation, crying out to God for his mercy, kindness and love.

Often, we pray, but we don’t wait. We ask, but we don’t expect anything to come of it. We knock, but we turn away, not expecting the door to be opened.

And when the answer comes, we are not there to receive it and we don’t recognize it as the answer to our prayer. Sometimes it’s because it arrives in a different form then we imagined.

God often wraps things in unlikely packaging, and we don’t realise that his gift is the gift we longed for. In our waiting we have lost the enthusiasm we once had and when the answer comes we are surprised as we weren’t expecting it, and our lack of expectation blinded our eyes to the blessing.

We have fallen prey to the seed of doubt. And possibly unbelief.

In the book of James, we are likened to something when we waver in our faith.

James 1:5-7 KJV - If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

We are likened to a wave of the sea.

I love the ocean. I love to stand at the water’s edge, with my toes digging into the sand, watching the waves roll in, and feeling the coolness of the water lap at my feet. I watch the wave as it comes in, then goes out, then in, then out. Over and over.

It’s the wind that is driving the waves onto the shoreline. The force of the wind blows over the surface of the water, and as it transfers its energy, it causes the water to move in a circular motion. The rise and fall of water molecules create a wave that moves in the direction of the wind.

Why are we likened to a wave when we pray without faith? When we waver and doubt it is because the ‘winds’ in our lives are causing this in out motion. Faith. Doubt. Faith. Doubt.

What is the wind in your life that drives you? Is it a wind of doubt? Is it a wind of anxiety? Is it a wind of fear?

Our expectations affect our vision.

This verse in Jeremiah holds a beautiful promise.

Jeremiah 29:13 KJV - And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

The searching in this verse is not a casual glance or a hurried hunt. No. It’s a searching with passion and expectation, like the little girl unwaveringly, persistently, determinedly seeking for her precious blooms.

And because she expected to find them, she did. And her efforts were rewarded.

When we search for God, when we look for him with our whole heart, when we cry out to him in sincere desperation, knowing that only he holds the key to unlock the heavy case of burdens we carry, when we seek him, we WILL find him.

We WILL have the answers we need.

Hebrews 11:6 KJV - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

We don’t please God when we waver in our faith. We have to believe. And he will bless. But notice that is says he will reward the diligent? Those that diligently seek him. There has to be some earnestness about our prayers. Some care, some steadfastness. Some expectation.

God loves us and wants to give good gifts to his children, but he has an expectation as well. He expects us to ask. And to keep on asking. To seek. And to keep on seeking. To knock. And to keep on knocking.

He doesn’t want half-hearted prayers. He wants us to be all in.

He wants us to pull up that deck chair, hat in hand, coat to the ready, nourishment handy, sitting on the wharf in eager expectation and anticipation of his answers.

Now, that doesn’t mean we don’t put feet to our prayers. We need to be busy doing the work of the Lord, but in all our busyness, we need to remember God’s goodness and we need not forget that nothing is too hard for God.

No need, no hurt, no wound, no request is beyond God. With God, ALL things are possible.

We have to remain prayerful, persistent, expectant, obedient and trusting. God expects us to pray with a heart of faith and hope. He wants us to bring our requests to him continually and pray over and over, impressing upon him the importance of our particular request.

It’s not wrong to pray for something consistently until God opens the floodgates of Heaven and grants our desires and we see the mighty hand of God work and we are able to give Him all the glory.

How many souls have been saved because a faithful Christian wouldn't give up on praying for that one to come to Christ? They weren't content to pray once, and walk away, not waiting for the answer. No, they were ready and waiting at the wharf, continually begging God and interceding on someone else's behalf until God answered. 

I don't want to be so busy in life, that I don't notice those little answers to prayer. We often ask a small request of God, then don't even see the answer arrive because we're so busy doing other things, and our expectation was so small that the blessing comes and goes by unnoticed. 

I want to be like the little girl, persistent, expectant, full of hope and wonder, excitement and anticipation, eager to find what she’s searching for and not giving up until she finds it.

 

“Ask great things of God

Attempt great things for God

Expect great things from God”

Hudson Taylor

Matthew 7:7-8 KJV - Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You won’t change the world by just going to church

 

Did you know that you can praise God anywhere, at any time?

Did you know that you can worship him anywhere, at any time?

Yes, churches are a great place to praise God. But they’re not the only place to praise and worship him.

Not only are churches a good place to worship, but so are coffee shops, showers, late night car rides, conversations with friends, viewing the sunset alone from a rooftop, hours spent lying awake on a restless night.

“Don’t let a building confine your faith, because you will never change the world by just going to church, we need to BE the church.”

I’m sure you’re all aware of the term ‘corporate worship’? This term has gotten a bad rap in recent years because some associate it with a ‘band-like’ atmosphere of many of the mega churches we read about.

But corporate worship is Biblical. In simplest terms, corporate worship involves Christians coming together in one place, to pray, sing, learn and worship together. (Psalm 95)

Corporate worship brings together God’s word, prayer and fellowship and helps to rekindle our spiritual fire, especially when dark days loom and we rely on each other for support.

We read over and over in Scripture that the church is a body (Romans 12:5) and we are members of that body. Being involved in a local church is so beneficial to our spiritual health.

But you are never going to change the world, and reach the lost, simply by going to church.

We, as individuals, need to BE the church.

I just want to talk a bit about this idea of corporate worship, and then I’ll come back to my previous statement.

Often, we come into our worship services in somewhat of a spiritual fog. We’ve had a hard week; things haven’t gone to plan and we feel in need of fellowship and spiritual nourishment. (Just a note here: don’t forget, it’s not up to the Pastor to feed you. You need to be daily in the Word of God, feasting on the truths you find there and sitting at the feet of Jesus, learning from him).

In Psalm 73, we read of Asaph despairing over the prosperity of the wicked.

Psalm 73:2-3 KJV - But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

He’d been experiencing hardship and was frustrated over the way things were going.

He was in a fog. He was despondent, and probably the last thing on his mind was getting together with others in the context of worship.

But then we come to a pivotal moment.

Psalm 73:16-17 KJV - When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

He states that it is all too painful, UNTIL…..

He makes a choice to enter the sanctuary. The church. He gets up off his couch and makes the effort to meet with others, and then he understands. The fog lifts. And he is able to lift his voice in praise.

Psalm 73:25-26 KJV - Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

When our hearts feel it least, is when we need it most.

When you are discouraged, lonely, hurting and you don’t ‘feel’ like worshipping, that’s when you need to pick yourself up, and go and fellowship with other Christians.

Psalm 122:1 KJV - I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

Christianity was never meant to be a solo operation. All the biblical metaphors are always plural. A body. A flock. A holy nation.

We have a beautiful example of Christian fellowship in the book of Acts, and it should be the model for our churches, small groups, Bible studies and fellowship today.

Acts 2:42, 46-47 KJV - And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. ... And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Did you notice the use of they and their? Plural. And what were they busy doing? They were being taught, they were sharing meals, they were praying together, they were practicing hospitality, and they were glad!

Yes, true worship is fundamentally an experience of the heart. And it is individual. But as we come together, with other like-minded Christians, all intent on worshipping God in a corporate setting, something beautiful happens. Or it should.

We are drawn together through our love for God and as the Word is preached, the songs are sung, the prayers are prayed, the Holy Spirit reaches into our hearts and helps heal the wounds, sooth the troubled soul and speak directly to us, as we stand surrounded by fellow Christians, similarly broken and hurting, in need of God’s touch.

Now, getting back to my point.

You are never going to change the world, and reach the lost, simply by going to church.

We, as individuals, need to BE the church.

It’s not enough to just go to church. As the saying goes, “going to church isn’t going to make you a Christian any more than going to McDonalds makes you a cheeseburger!”

We need to be the church. We need to be the light the world sees. Not just as a body of believers, but as individuals, with our own personal relationship and walk with Christ.

Some reading this won’t like what I’m about to say, but can I remind you that going to church every time the doors are open, to every event, involved in every ministry and on every committee, doesn’t make you any more spiritual than the man who only attends once a week because his work commitments don’t allow him to be present more than that?

It doesn’t make you any more spiritual than the young mother, with little ones who is not able to make it to every service because of sick children or simply because she has no more energy left to give.

It doesn’t make you any more spiritual than a missionary on a foreign field, struggling along with only a handful of converts that meet for a Bible study in a grass hut on the side of a mountain, weather permitting, to learn from God’s Word together.

Do you get my point?

We really can praise the Lord at any time and in any place. We really can worship God and draw close to him without killing ourselves to make it to every gathering when it just isn’t a possibility.

Our Christianity is not based on how often we attend church. It’s based on a relationship. It’s not about rules. It’s about relationship. It’s about our walk with God and what our priorities are and what we do in private.

A church is not a building. It’s a body of believers. All over the world. Not just in your town or city. It’s Christians from all walks of life, living through differing seasons, at different maturity levels in their relationship with Christ. We are the church.

We are often deceived by thinking that our personal walk with Christ is not as important as the services we attend. But one of Satan’s most effective attacks against the church is getting us to believe that the more programs, the more services, the more gatherings, the more events, the more ministries we have determines our closeness to God.

Often, they are nothing but a bunch of loosely connected individuals, trying to operate as a body, but with no unity, no passion, no burden for the ministries we’re involved in, coming together for the required time allotted and then parting ways, having no contact with each other until the following week, when we do it all again. Week in. Week out. Month after month. Year after year.

Don’t get me wrong, we need each other. We need fellowship. We need community. We need to get together for corporate worship, but if our hearts are not in it and we are not where we should be spiritually, then we are not pleasing God and we are certainly not bringing glory to his name.

I guess what I’m trying to say is this. You have to focus on your own, personal relationship with God. You have to prioritize time alone with him. You have to be willing to read and study the Word of God for yourself and apply the truths to your lives before you will ever be effective in reaching the world for Christ.

Don’t let a building confine your faith.

God is everywhere and he will meet you where you are. As you draw close to him, he will draw close to you. Only then will you be used of God.

James 4:8a KJV - Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you...

You’ll never reach others if you yourself are not walking in step with God, pursuing his perfect will, content with whatever he sends your way.

Make it a priority to work on your relationship with God. Put him first. Make him the centre of your life.

Not the programs. God.

Not the church. God.

Yes, be in fellowship. Yes, participate in the ministries of the church that God impresses upon your heart.

But don’t confine your faith to a building.

Let God’s light shine from you. As an individual. Be the reason others want to know more about God.

1 Peter 3:15 KJV - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Let your praise and worship of him be something you do on a daily basis. Don’t wait until the Sunday morning service to lift your voice in song. Praise him today.

Psalm 150:6 KJV - Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holy Desperation

Word got around that Jesus would be passing through the town on Jericho one day, and a disliked tax collector, small of stature, but rich in wealth, a man named Zaccheus was desperate to see Jesus. (Luke 19)

His desperation was so great, that he hitched up his skirts and ran ahead of the crowd, climbed the branches of a sycamore tree and perched there waiting for the crowd to pass below, bearing Jesus along with them.

Jesus, knowing all things and knowing the heart of Zaccheus, stopped below the tree and called up to him, “….make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house”.

His desperation saw the Saviour not only come to his house but do a work in his heart. 

An outcast, blind and begging, Bartimaeus was also passionate about “seeing” Jesus. He didn’t have sight to be able to run ahead of the crowd. He sat by the road hoping to receive something from a compassionate soul on their way out of Jericho. (Luke 18)

Not knowing what the commotion was all about and why the crowds were passing him by, he asked the passersby the reason for such a great number of people. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, his holy desperation took over and he began to cry out desperately, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me”.

The townspeople were embarrassed and tried to quieten him. But his persistence caught the ear of Jesus, and another miracle was performed, bringing sight both to his eyes and to his heart.

In the Old Testament, God became fed up with the complaining, unthankful Israelites and threatened to abandon them in the desert. But the desperate pleading of Moses on the people’s behalf ensured God’s continued presence among the Israelites.  (Exodus 33)

Moses didn’t want the promise land without the promise giver. He wanted the presence of God every step of the way and his holy desperation drove him to intercede on the behalf of an ungrateful, rebellious nation.

Maybe what we need today is the holy desperation that these 3 men had.

God has responded in miraculous ways over and over to desperate cries to him. He longs for us to grow in our relationship with him so that his continued presence is a consuming passion and that we desire nothing more than experiencing his closeness and his leading in our lives.

He wants us to have a holy desperation for him and a longing for deeper fellowship with him day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute.

These men didn’t let their obstacles become excuses to back down and quit seeking him.

Zaccheus didn’t let his height or reputation stop him from seeing Christ.

Bartimeus didn’t let his blindness stop him from calling out and seeking mercy.

Moses didn’t let a rebellious nation, headed for destruction, angry at him, ungrateful for God’s goodness, stop him from pleading for God’s mercy on their behalf.

They didn’t let their obstacles become excuses.

What is it that God is ready and willing to give to you if only you will seek him, and cry out to him, desperately, passionately, wholeheartedly?

Jeremiah 33:2-3 KJV - Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name; Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

God is ready to show us his might and power. He stands ready to answer. Ready to give. Ready to heal.

“Desperation becomes holy when we humble ourselves, release control and desperately seek God for a new future.”

We have to determine to seek God with our whole heart. We have to choose humility and we have to release control, letting God write our story, letting him answer the way he sees fit.

We have to let go of our will and place ourselves in his capable hands.

We have to be so set on seeking God that we won’t let anything stand in our way.

If you set out to seek God, he will meet you where you are.

Whether it’s up a tree, or by the wayside. It’s not about your position, or reputation, it’s about your heart.

Deuteronomy 4:29 KJV - But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

Hebrews 11:6 KJV - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

We need a holy desperation for God that drives us to our knees and to his feet, crying out to him, letting go of our pride, seeking only him.

We need some of the resolve that numerous men and women of old had. We need to be unashamed of our need for God. We need a humility that realises we will never be enough on our own. It is only with God’s strength and enabling grace that we enjoy his endless mercies.

Let go of your pride. Humble yourself. Seek God. Desire him above everything else. Let his praise be on your lips continually. Desperately come to him wanting his will above everything else. And the blessings of God (not our own interpretation of them), will fall down, like the rain from heaven.

Seek him. He will answer.                                                    

 

Do you know the difference? 

I recently heard a very good explanation on 3 words that we find used together in 9 verses of Scripture.

These words are: knowledge, wisdom and understanding.

Over the past couple of months, I have been busy studying for a Ladies conference to be held in March. The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Study’.

Myself, and 2 other speakers, are hoping to impress upon the attendees the importance of being in the Word of God, not only in the reading of the Bible, but also in studying, meditating on, striving to learn what the Scriptures say, applying what we learn to our lives, and more importantly, obeying what we read.

I am so excited for this conference as being a student of the Word of God, digging deeper and trying to make sense of what I read has become a passion of mine. The goal of my blog is to encourage women to become more like Christ and to get passionate about the Word of God and not be content to simply read their Bibles like a short devotional, but to chew over the harder passages of Scripture and learn their meanings, developing a desire for God’s Word and a hunger and thirst not only for the Word but its author also.

I long for women to read their Bibles, totally engrossed in every little detail, utterly absorbed in the stories, amazed and astounded at the truths they find there, hanging on every word and pouring over God’s Word with intense curiosity and interest, wanting to know what each passage means and how it applies to their lives.

We have to come to the realisation that our spiritual growth is directly proportionate to the amount of time and effort we put into the study of our Bibles.

Our spiritual growth can be stunted because of our spiritual diet. If we don’t feed ourselves, we won’t grow. It’s as simple as that.

There is so much more I would love to say on this subject, but you’ll have to come along to the conference to hear more!

Let’s get back to these 3 words. Knowledge. Wisdom. Understanding.

Read this passage found in the book of Colossians, written by Paul and Timothy to the church at Colosse.

Colossians 1:1-6, 9-12 - Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother, To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: ... For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

We see these 3 words in this passage. And in 8 other passages in Scripture, we see them again, used together. I think the mention of these words together only helps to reinforce the connection they have.

Paul prays that the Colossians will have knowledge and wisdom and understanding. He longs for them to have these things so that they can walk worthy of their calling and that they would produce fruit, be strengthened in Christ, and experience patience, longsuffering and joyfulness.

What a beautiful prayer Paul prays for these beloved Christians. Oh, that we would pray this prayer over our fellow believers and ourselves.

But what does it mean to have knowledge, wisdom and understanding?

The explanation I heard recently seemed to sum it up perfectly. Here is my very brief overview and personal take on it. This is not an exhaustive summary and I encourage you to do some searching yourselves on these very important subjects.

Let’s look at knowledge first.

Knowledge is the ‘what’. It is simply information. It is information learnt through Scripture or other resources. Knowledge can also be gained through experience.

It is basically the facts and information.

But knowledge is not enough. We can have all the knowledge in the world, but if we are unaffected by what we learn, then it is of little benefit.

There are entire commentaries written by unbelievers who in some cases, have an exceptional grasp of Scripture, but they know nothing of true love for God and obedience to Biblical truth. They have no wisdom or understanding.

So, what about wisdom?

What is wisdom? Wisdom is the discernment to be able to judge whether the information you are taking in is true and right. Wisdom is the ability to be able to use that information at the right time, in the right circumstances, with the right judgment. Wisdom enables us to put into practice the knowledge we have, judging correctly and taking the appropriate course of action.  

There are so many verses in the Bible on the subject of wisdom that we could spend a lifetime digging into them all. But I love the verse in James 1:5 that reminds us that we can come to God and ask him for wisdom at any time.

Our wisdom comes from God.

Proverbs 2:6 KJV - For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

It is God that imparts wisdom to our hearts and helps us to become discerning.

We need the Holy Spirit’s help to shed his light on the Word of God for our understanding and to gain wisdom.

John 14:26 KJV - But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Here’s an important thought to remember.

Knowledge can exist without wisdom, but wisdom cannot exist without knowledge.

We all know people who have a lot of knowledge and yet they lack discernment, practical skills, understanding and the ability to judge correctly.

But if we are to have wisdom, we have to have knowledge. There has to be some knowledge of the facts and information to be able to use wisdom in relation to them. Our knowledge is worthless without wisdom.

Now, onto understanding.

Understanding is the extent to which we comprehend something.

I’ll give you an example. I have very little understanding of the workings of a diesel engine. I know some facts about it. I could point out a few things on one and explain where the oil or water goes etc. But, compared to a qualified diesel fitter, my understanding is very basic. I could read a book on the subject and boost my knowledge but without some wisdom and understanding, it will probably be worthless.

In order to grow in our relationship with Christ and in our spiritual walk, we not only need head knowledge, the facts of what we read in the Bible, but we need wisdom and understanding.

And the way we get this is through reading, study and prayer.

We read in the book of Daniel how that God gave Daniel and his 3 friends knowledge, wisdom and understanding.

Daniel 1:17 KJV - As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

I think that the clue to why God gave them these things lies in verse 8.

Daniel 1:8 KJV - But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

The reason for God’s gift to them was because of their strength of purpose.

They were determined to honour God and obey his commands. They were undeterred in their loyalty to Christ, and I think God rewarded them for this.

And I firmly believe that if we desire to obey God, and walk in his truth, never content with only head knowledge, but always wanting to learn more from his Word in order that we can grow in Christlikeness, seeking God’s wisdom and understanding, then we will be rewarded for our diligence.  

Hebrews 11:6 KJV - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

The goal of Bible reading and study is not how much you read or how fast you read. It’s not about how many Greek or Hebrew words and definitions you know. The goal is growing in your relationship with Christ and getting the Word of God into your life, so that it will change the way you live.

We need to read our Bibles with an eager desire to learn. We need to read with passion and interest. We need to develop a fervent, excited, engaged mind, always wanting to read more, know more, study more, learn more, obey more.

If we want to be filled with the knowledge, wisdom and understanding of God’s truths, we have to spend time in the Word. We have to walk close to Christ, spend time talking to him, listening for his voice, pouring out our hearts to him and obeying his words of instruction.

We have to read and reread the Bible. We have to pour over every word. We have to look for the meanings behind each passage. We have to diligently seek him. We have to meditate and examine the Word, giving attention and care and thought into all we read. We have to desire to become devoted students of the Word and have a great love for the Saviour of our souls.

It's not about rules. It’s about relationship.

Don’t expect to know God better if your Bible is closed.

Don’t expect to hear from God if you are not in communication with him.

Open your Bible.

Read and study the Word.

Talk to God daily.

Don’t be satisfied with the milk of a newborn babe. Move onto strong meat, ‘having your senses exercised to discern both good and evil’. Hebrews 5:13,14.

If there is no change in your life, there has been no learning.

James 1:25 KJV - But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.