You are not Alone!

The young man has been sitting in a jail cell in maximum confinement for 5 months. I visit him every Friday morning, sitting in a small, windowless room, talking across a cold steel table. The whole situation is isolated, lonely! He is resisting the usual choice to join one of the gangs that are common among those who are incarcerated but going it ‘alone’ is a perilous and difficult choice. Yesterday I reminded him that God’s Spirit cannot be shut out by bars or violence, that there is One who is always with him.

Jesus, before He was crucified, gathered His disciples, and said "I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." (John 14:16-18, NIV) 

When fear rises in the night, the Spirit is there.
When challenges come at Noon, He is there.
When you are successful and ready to celebrate, He is there, too!
When heartbreak shatters you, He is there.

The text I read a moment ago says that He is our Counselor. Some Bible translations say, “Comforter.” Others say, “Helper.”  The original text, Koine Greek, reads “parakletos,” a word that described someone who stood with their friend in time of need to speak on their behalf. God, the Holy Spirit, is there, at our side, all the time. We are never alone!

Friends are a blessing and worth the effort required to create and strengthen our ties with them. Being on teams at work or in ministry is a blessing of inestimable value. But the ever-present Spirit is a treasure, a rich resource, a great comfort. Let us never ignore Him or push Him away with our doubt or disobedience.

Let me assure you today that none of us is ever too far gone, too sinful, too anything to be beyond the reach of God’s Spirit.

In the story of the ancient Jewish people, their sins had become such that God needed to bring correction. He did so with an invading army that decimated the land. It was a terrible time, of great suffering, yet even then they were not completely forsaken. They felt like they were.

 It looked like God had forgotten them, but He said otherwise. "But the Lord still waits for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for him to help them. O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will be gracious if you ask for help. He will respond instantly to the sound of your cries. Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and affliction for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes, and you will hear a voice say, “This is the way; turn around and walk here.” (Isaiah 30:18-21, NLT)

What a phrase! “Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and affliction for drink, he will still be with you.”   Sometimes when we are going through difficult seasons, especially those we realize are the result of our own failure, we might be tempted to think that God has abandoned us. That is a lie much used by the Evil One to discourage us. In truth – God is with us, shaping us, molding us, and asking us to trust Him more.

The story of the Prodigal Son, told by Jesus, and recorded for us in Luke 15, reminds us that He is our waiting Father, calling to us, desiring our return to the embrace of His love. Listen for the voice of the Spirit Who even today is saying, “This is the way; turn around and walk here.”

The word from the Word brings us tremendous joy as we learn and live it. Take with you today and remember that YOU ARE NEVER ALONE.
"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear,
but you received the Spirit of sonship.
And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (Daddy!)
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ,
if indeed we share in his sufferings
in order that we may also share in his glory."
(Romans 8:15-17, NIV)

Can I get a Hallelujah? Amen

_______________________________

Video at https://www.youtube.com/@JerScott55

My hearing aids

Three years ago, I decided that I needed help with my hearing. I could ‘hear’ the sounds of conversation but often without clarity. I was missing out, or worse, would say something that was totally unrelated to the topic because I could not hear properly! So, I bought hearing aids. What a blessing they can be when I remember to put them in my ears before I leave my home.

Are you able to hear the voice of the Lord, attuned to His ways and will, ready to respond?

He does speak, promises to guide us, and is our “ever-present help in times of trouble.” Enjoying those blessings, however, do require some choices we make, much like my improved hearing required me to choose to get help! What follows is not a formula of ‘3 easy steps to knowing God’s will.’  Rather, I want to offer some suggestions that you may consider for increasing your spiritual insight.

In Luke 10 we read the story of Jesus’ visit to the home of Mary and Martha. Martha was taken up with her work to provide hospitality and grew angry at her sister for just sitting around listening! The Lord famously did not join Martha’s indignance, but instead said this - “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:40 NIV) Jesus came to visit with both women. One was willing to listen. The other felt only the frustration she created for herself.

Martha teaches us that we can be so taken up with our religious service that we miss out on knowing the true Presence of Jesus. IF we make our spiritual life all about the songs we sing, the scrupulous adherence to rituals, or digging around in the words of the Bible for some new ‘truth’ – our ability to hear the Spirit’s voice can be diminished, even lost. Like Mary, we must choose to make ourselves available to the Lord and examine our attitude toward Him if we desire to hear His voice.

If we want to hear Him, we must choose to respond to Him. Ever watched a parent attempt to speak with a child who has decided to ignore her Mom? That little one hears the words but has chosen not to actually listen. We watch knowing that correction is coming at some point in time.

When God speaks to us, He desires that we respond with obedience. There are times when I am reading the scripture or listening to a sermon when I sense the Spirit asking for growth and/or change. In that moment, I am faced with a choice: submit to Him or ignore His voice. I confess that sometimes I try to dismiss the impression, excusing my actions or determining that what I feel is just a left-over echo of my own conscience.

Using the example of the ancient people of Israel, the Word warns us of ‘hardening our heart!’ "As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?" (Hebrews 3:15-16, NIV) They had seen spectacular miracles as they left Egypt. They were living with day-to-day provisions from the Lord, but they chose to ignore Him and became spiritual deaf! The risk remains when we resist the clear call of the Spirit to walk faithfully in His ways.

A good conversation that is rich in understanding requires at least as much listening as it does speaking. Someone suggested that too often we formulate a response to the other person before they finish speaking. We are so focused on what we want to say that we do not really ‘hear’ the other person. Ever had that experience? It’s not great, is it? 

Prayer is not JUST bringing a list of requests to God. Yes, He wants us to ask Him for every need, to share with Him every doubt, to bring our friends and family before Him in our prayers. AND, He wants us to learn to listen, too. Contemplative prayer, that which is focused on the Person of God, in which I am with HIM in silent focus, allows Him to speak. Oh, it is hard! A thousand thoughts will intrude as we quiet ourselves before Him. Most of us are so addicted to noise, to our smartphones, to constant background chatter on the TV or streaming device, that we experience a kind of anxiety when we enter into silence for more than a couple of minutes.

But, if we would hear from God, we must learn that discipline. We must choose to wait before Him with simple faith and earnest expectation. When you attempt this, do not be discouraged if days pass when you come from silence feeling that time was wasted.

Yes, God is speaking everywhere, all the time. The Scripture is His revelation of His will. But He does not only speak to us when our Bibles are open. He speaks to us in the voice of friend, in the arrangement of our circumstances, in the good times and the awful, too. As Elijah learned on the mountain, He seldom roars or shouts. Mostly His is the ‘still, small voice.’ Let’s learn to listen!

This word from the Word is a precious promise. Be encouraged by it to learn and listen.
"The LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.
Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you." (Proverbs 2:5-11, NIV)

_______________________________

Video at https://www.youtube.com/@JerScott55

Morning Prayer 107

Abba, I am incurably religious, willing to slip too quickly into making my faith about the songs I sing, the holy days I observe, and the parsing of words in my studies of the Bible. Forgive me for the misplaced focus on ‘me.’  Draw me to change and cause my heart to desire You.

My heart is a rebel so I pray you will call me persistently and grant me the grace of patience as I wait for Your ways and will to unfold in my life.

Renew my spirit as You move deeply within me, making my stony heart into one that is pliable in Your hands, responsive to Your leading. Help me to see You and Your goodness in moments of wonder that are scattered throughout my ordinary days.

When Self struts, convict me and lead me to new humility before You.
Help me to keep in step with the Spirit and to discover the rich and full life offered to those who are followers of Your Son, Jesus.

"Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
Remember, O LORD,
your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you are good, O LORD." (Psalm 25:4-7, NIV)

In Jesus' holy Name I pray. Amen.