Mourning into dancing?

Joy slipped away from me this week. Heavy sighs were often heard from me! I became something of a martyr as I continued to do ‘my duty.’ What happened to my joy?  I’m sure that there are a combination of things including brain chemistry, fatigue, and even spiritual opposition that darkened my  skies.  But, I also know that without the joy of the Lord I will not reflect the goodness of God to others in the way He desires.

Dutiful people can look admirable and godly with all their commitment to responsibility. Let’s remember, however, that the evidence of the Life of God’s Spirit in us includes joy.  Joy is not to be confused with happiness, silliness, or mirth.  It is better than that. It flows out of a sense of God’s provision for us.  A joyless Christian (that was me!) has a spiritual issue with which he must deal. When Jesus taught about His intimate life-giving connection to us, using the metaphor of the vine and branches, He said that from Him we will draw life and "you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!" (John 15:11, NLT)

Jesus was "a man acquainted with grief, a man of sorrows." He did weep with those who were broken by disappointment, death, and disease. But, He was never in despair. The work of a pastor brings me into contact with many people who are full of sorrow. Death, divorce, and disappointment bring people to me all the time! I’d be a fool not to recognize that life is full of trouble and sadness.  I would be something less than compassionate if I kept the grief others feel from touching my heart.  And yet it's not all death and duty!

Jesus earned harsh criticism from the dutiful religious professionals for going out to dinner with people that most thought of as worthless sinners. He attracted people to Him everywhere He went. It is not a stretch of imagination to think that He did so by knowing how to laugh and lift them up. Make whatever you want of this, but the Gospels tell us that Jesus' first miracle was supplying wine for a wedding! We miss a large part of Who He was if our only picture of the face of Jesus is the tear-stained one He wore on the night of Gethsemane's agony. We forget that kids loved Him, that crowds were drawn to Him, and that He spent a lot of time with so-called 'street people.'  He had to be a joyful man, too.

So, how do we live in His joy?

Worship! "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." (Psalm 16:11, NIV) If we live life, with our face to the ground, focusing only on the needs, the duties, the pressing responsibilities - we will be overcome with the apparent futility of life. Worship, offering up the sacrifice of praise, lifts our face to Heaven and allows us to regain a view of God's glorious works. No wonder the Scripture urges us to "Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song." (Psalm 95:1-2, NIV)

Serve! The paradox of joy is that you cannot find it in vanity and in and endless pursuit of pleasure. Selfishness cuts us off from God's approval which is our greatest reason for joy!  Jesus told a story about men who were entrusted with responsibility. Two of the three were diligent and obedient in their service. Note their commendation: "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful . . . Enter into the joy of your lord." (Matthew 25:23, NKJV)  Faithful service allows us to enter into God’s joy.

Accept!  Nothing is a greater joy-killer than becoming convinced that happiness lies in being someone else, somewhere else. God is where you are.  Joy cannot be found outside of ourselves. It flows from inside of our heart. Jesus told a thirsty woman what I and you need to hear: "the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life.” (John 4:14, NLT)  Will we pray to be fully alive in our current situation, accepting His grace; or will we remain restless and joyless in our discontent. Those who are His beloved children can turn to Him and find help, strength, and resources. He gives grace for the journey.  Accept it and there will be joy even in the trials of life. Do not confuse happiness, a transitory emotion that is largely based on pleasant circumstances, with genuine joy. Joy is a constant work of God's Spirit in us, not something we drum up, create, or paste into place.

Is dutiful responsibility draining away your joy?
Here's a word from the Word, our reminder of joy in the Lord.
"He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.

Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord,
who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols."  (Psalm 40:2-4, NLT)

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Mourning Into Dancing (listen to Steve Green sing it, click here)
You have turned my mourning into dancing, Lord
Now my feet are filled with your praise
You have clothed my spirit with a robe of joy
You’ve cast my sorrow away
For Your anger last but a moment, Lord
And my tears endure for the night
But Your favor lasts for a lifetime, Lord
My joy returns with the morning light
For . . .
You have turned my mourning into dancing, Lord
Now my feet are filled with your praise
You have clothed my spirit with a robe of joy
You’ve cast my sorrow away
All my foes lose heart when they hear my voice
For I speak in Jesus’ Name
They turn back in fear at the sound of praise
I’ll not keep silent, I must proclaim
That . . .
You have turned my mourning into dancing, Lord
Now my feet are filled with your praise
You have clothed my spirit with a robe of joy
You’ve cast my sorrow away
Words and music by John G. Elliott
Copyright 1989 LCS Songs (a div. of Lorenz Creative Services)/Charlie Monk Music. All rights reserved.

Natural or Supernatural? You choose!

Do you experience that inner struggle between the 'right' and the 'wrong' in your life?  I do. There are moments when I know what I should do, but part of me has no real desire for ‘the right.’ 

For example, there are mornings I know I should pray, but I feel no inclination to seek God's Presence.  I would rather read the timeline on Facebook!  

I sometimes feel anger rising with some growing frustration and I know that I should master it with self-control. Yet, another part of me wants to continue to let the stormy emotions off their leash!  Sometimes I am not thankful though I know I should be. Like a stubborn toddler, I resist saying the words – “Thank you!”

But I do not confuse what is ‘natural’ with what is ‘right.’ 

The Bible teaches us that "the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want." (Galatians 5:17, NIV)  There is a beautiful, whole way of life available to us who are ‘in Christ.’  In obedience to the Lord, we find the safety of His embrace. In rebellion, we leave ourselves open to evil’s assault! There is this warning, first given to Cain in the first book of the Scripture, that we are wise to understand: "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” (Genesis 4:7, NIV)   

Some Christians chase a mystical experience hoping it will take away the inclination to sin. Others seek a formula for life with the expectation that doing the program will eliminate temptation. The truth is that temptation tests us all.  We choose to live in God’s grace and each choice either strengthens us or another compromise weakens us. The Word says, "we must not live to satisfy our desires. If you do, you will die. But you will live, if by the help of God's Spirit you say "No" to your desires. Only those people who are led by God's Spirit are his children. God's Spirit doesn't make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father."  (Romans 8:12-15, CEV)  Through the work of the Holy Spirit we enter into a supernatural way of life; not as supermen but as people submitted to God’s Holy Spirit.

Let’s be clear. Sin is never overcome by strength of human will alone!  When we turn to Christ, accepting Him as Savior in faith, the Spirit comes to live in us. But, that is not the end of the matter!    At that moment of rebirth, a struggle commences. The Scripture calls the Christian life "a race set before us...” and urges us to “run with endurance."  (Heb. 12)  We never stand still. Each day we are either moving toward the Lord or away from Him.  When we face Him and choose life, we grow stronger.

Too many Christians resort to rationalizations for sins, explaining away the gaps in their spirituality as 'natural'  choosing to surrender to what they know is wrong because 'everybody does it.'   Others allows themselves to slip into a kind of religiosity, content to go through the motions, but allowing their inner thoughts and attitudes to remain unchanged.  That kind of duplicity makes hypocrites and leaves the person vulnerable to the sin that crouches at the door.  

It’s a daily walk! It is possible to start well and then become prideful, losing ground. Paul led people in the city of Galatia into a right relationship with God, teaching them about the Cross and faith.  They believed and were filled with goodness and grace. Then, they became proud of their righteousness and morality. They turned from faith in Christ to faith in Self, and an ugly parody of Christian life took over.  Paul challenged them with strong words:  “You stupid Galatians! I told you exactly how Jesus Christ was nailed to a cross. Has someone now put an evil spell on you? I want to know only one thing. How were you given God's Spirit? Was it by obeying the Law of Moses or by hearing about Christ and having faith in him? How can you be so stupid? Do you think that by yourself you can complete what God's Spirit started in you? Have you gone through all of this for nothing? Is it all really for nothing? God gives you his Spirit and works miracles in you. But does he do this because you obey the Law of Moses or because you have heard about Christ and have faith in him?" (Galatians 3:1-6, CEV)

Are you struggling with some temptation? You’re not alone. We all deal with it. We are taught this - "If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin. But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it." (1 Corinthians 10:12-13, NLT)  Do not become over confident in your own strength. Do not despair if temptation keeps showing up. Instead, go to Jesus and ask Him to guide you to safety.  But, remember: you choose to follow!

Here’s the sweet assurance that God gives. Silence the Accuser with the Truth.

"With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death. God went for the jugular when he sent his own Son. He didn’t deal with the problem as something remote and unimportant. In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all.

The law code, weakened as it always was by fractured human nature, could never have done that. The law always ended up being used as a Band-Aid on sin instead of a deep healing of it. And now what the law code asked for but we couldn’t deliver is accomplished as we, instead of redoubling our own efforts, simply embrace what the Spirit is doing in us." (Romans 8:1-4, The Message)

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Take Time To Be Holy

Take time to be holy,

Speak oft with thy Lord.

Abide in Him always

And feed on His Word.

Make friends with God's children,

Help those who are weak,

Forgetting in nothing

His blessing to seek.

Take time to be holy

The world rushes on.

Spend much time in secret

With Jesus alone.

By looking to Jesus

Like Him thou shalt be,

Thy friends, in thy conduct,

His likeness shall see.

Take time to be holy,

Be calm in thy soul;

Each tho't and each motive

Beneath His control.

Thus, led by His Spirit,

To fountains of love,

Thou soon shall be fitted

For service above.

George Coles Stebbins | William Dunn Longstaff

© Words: Public Domain

"The lady doth protest too much, methinks"

Ever been misunderstood and/or misjudged?  You are smiling now because we all know the answer to that question! A woman spoke with me yesterday about her confusion. All she wanted to do was help out in a difficult situation but those she wanted to help thought she was trying to take over.  They shut her out.  Her sadness was doubled! She could not help and she was accused of having ulterior motives.  I have known other people who step into places of Christian service only to get caught in a crossfire of personalities and egos. When they try to be a peacemaker they get ‘shot’ from both sides. It is a sad thing to see God’s work lose a servant who grows disillusioned.

Christian, in those situations where we are misjudged, misquoted, misunderstood, or unappreciated we have two choices – get bitter or get better!  Bitterness comes quite naturally, a self-protective reflex. But, bitterness is a poison that is indiscriminate. We cannot pour a cup for another without having it splash into our own soul.

So, how can we get better instead?

“Remember Who you are ultimately serving!”  Jesus said “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” (Matthew 25:40, NIV) Even simple acts of kindness done in His Name are serving Him. Even giving a cup of cold water to a thirsty man or visiting a lonely one is a gift to Him. Because He sees deep into our hearts, He knows exactlywhy we did what we did and never misunderstands or forgets. This sobering fact has often encouraged me to do good.

One night long ago the motives of my ministry were called into question. A man I had loved and trusted, leveled harsh charges against me he honestly believed to be true. He saw only a part of what was going on, his judgment was clouded by other associations. The wounds of his words went deep. I came very close to resigning from pastoral ministry at that time. That night I walked behind the church building, alone in the darkness, with tears streaming down my face. There was sorrow and a real temptation to anger. It was not an audible voice I heard that night, but it was the Spirit – clearly – who said, “What does the Lord know about this situation? Has He released you from your calling?”  He knew all about me! The Word says, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13)  Holding onto that truth, I was able to pursue forgiveness and reconciliation. It was not simple, nor was it easy!  There is great freedom found in serving the One who never forgets.

We must not return fire, when others fire on us. Now, that’s a tough call, isn’t it? I admit it’s easier to write about it than to live it. Our Savior is our example. Peter tells us “If you’re treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God. This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. … He never did one thing wrong, Not once said anything amiss. They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right.” (1 Peter 2:20-23, The Message) When we are misjudged in motives, often the best defense is silence. Shakespeare puts a famous line into Queen Gertrude’s mouth in Hamlet, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”  Her elaborate defense only served to confirm suspicion.

We actively seek the good of those who seek our harm.  We are not just passive in the face of those who oppose us. Going beyond mere non-response supernaturally we move to bless them, Jesus taught. His counsel is that we “Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.” (Luke 6:28, NLT)

All of this rests on the secure foundation of the Lord’s love for us and His keen insight.
When your soul is battered, your heart is broken, your mind cries out for vindication – go to Jesus –  in prayer, quiet, waiting; sometimes crying, prayer! He knows the Truth and even if all Hell accuses, He alone justifies. Oh, blessed thought.

Here’s a word from the Word. Make it your prayerful meditation today.

“Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, 

On those who hope in His mercy, to deliver their soul from death,
And to keep them alive in famine.

Our soul waits for the Lord;  He is our help and our shield.

For our heart shall rejoice in Him,

Because we have trusted in His holy name.

Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us,  Just as we hope in You.”   Amen   (Psalm 33:18-23, NKJV

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Come Ye Sinners, Poor And Needy(Link here to Michael Card singing this song)

I will arise and go to Jesus

He will embrace me in His arms

In the arms of my dear Savior

O there are ten thousand charms

Come ye sinners poor and needy

Weak and wounded sick and sore

Jesus ready stands to save you

Full of pity love and power

Come ye thirsty come and welcome

God’s free bounty glorify

True belief and true repentance

Every grace that brings you nigh

Come ye weary heavy-laden

Lost and ruined by the fall

If you tarry ’til you’re better

You will never come at all

View Him prostrate in the garden

On the ground your Maker lies

On the bloody tree behold Him

Sinner will this not suffice

Lo the incarnate God ascended

Pleads the merit of His blood

Venture on Him venture wholly

Let no other trust intrude

Joseph Hart

© Words: Public Domain