Our Assurance

Yesterday, after a couple of difficult calls,  I went to bed with heart-ache, not from my own troubles, for I am amazingly blessed, but weighed down by the suffering, trials, and distress that people are going through right now. A friend is struggling with his recent divorce. Another is caught up in the web of addiction, despairing of the future. Some are broken by death’s visit to their family, trying to survive the grief.  A few are making on-going choices that I know are dragging them away from their Heavenly Father.  Then, too, there is this world’s suffering, children dying in war, famine and poverty the plight of millions. As I went to prayer, there was a deep sigh and I found myself confessing that I could not meet any of those needs on my own. Even my prayers seemed weak and ineffective. 

Then, I remembered this passage that brought blessed assurance - "But if we look forward to something we don’t have yet, we must wait patiently and confidently. And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don’t even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." (Romans 8:25-28, NLT)   With this promise I committed my friends and family members, name after name, to the One who works in ways beyond my comprehension, Who is active and present.  The ache lessened and I was able to rest.  

Do I have a responsibility to be faithful in prayer?
Absolutely. 
May God ask me to become part of His answer to prayer? 
Yes, He may, and that may cost me. 

But, the core truth is that He is faithful and always at work to restore and redeem those who turn to Him.

Compassion is costly! What a  joy, however, to know that you and I can be partners with the Eternal God in accomplishing His purposes!  Yes, it is a mystery of faith that the all-knowing, all-powerful God asks us to pray, but He does, so we must, but not with desperation. Instead, we come confidently, to speak His word, to seek His will, and to make the invisible Kingdom visible in our words and actions.

Jesus reminded us of our Counselor, a comfort, a guide, the One who would be present with us in this life.  His words are familiar yet worthy of our reflection yet again. " 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. … The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with 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 14:16-18, 26-27, NIV)

Are you feeling the weight of the world?  Lean on the Spirit.

Are you struggling to know how to pray for another?  Trust the Spirit.

Does the temptation to just ‘give up’ stalk you?  Recommit yourself to the Spirit.

There is assurance that He will do what we cannot even imagine. When we cannot see the way ahead, He knows and will guide IF we will quietly trust Him, even praying for the faith we need! 

Think on this, letting the promise renew your faith, then go today and live, pray, and serve fearlessly!  Here is the word from the Word. " Therefore, brothers (and sisters), since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus … do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. … So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can (people) do to me?” (Hebrews 10:19, 25: 13:6, NIV)

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(Video of this blog at this link)

 

Trust In God

Blessed assurance

Jesus is mine

He's been my fourth man in the fire

Time after time

Born of His Spirit

Washed in His blood

And what He did for me on Calvary

Is more than enough

 

I trust in God

My Savior

The One who will never fail

He will never fail

 

Perfect submission

All is at rest

I know the author of tomorrow

Has ordered my steps

So this is my story

And this is my song

I’m praising my risen King and Savior

All the day long

 

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered

That’s why I trust Him

That’s why (I trust Him)

 

Brandon Lake, Chris Brown, Mitch Wong, Steven Furtick

© Brandon Lake Music; Music by Elevation Worship Publishing; A Wong Made Write Publishing; Integrity's Praise! Music

CCLI License #810055

Entitled or Thankful? You Choose!

It’s been a long time since I parented teens but I still remember trying to teach them to value what they were given, to show gratitude to the people with whom they ‘did life!’  It is quite common for those for whom everything has been provided throughout childhood to slip into the idea that that food falls from the sky and that laundry magically makes it way from hamper to washer and back to dresser drawer.   

We can each develop a sense of entitlement, beginning to believe that we “deserve” privileges and/or recognition for things that we did not earn, that we are owed a the life others enjoy without applying ourselves with effort. People who feel entitled are often miserable - inwardly and among their friends and family members. They do not know the joy of true accomplishment. They are seldom satisfied and want ‘more,’ even to the point of demanding to be served.

Here's a key question for us as Christians. Are we approaching God like spoiled teenagers, quick to complain about what we perceive as lack and failing to express genuine gratitude?

One day ten men in a desperate situation approached Jesus. They were ‘lepers,’ meaning they had some skin disease that required them to live completely isolated from the community and family. It was a kind of living death!  They had heard about Jesus’ healing work and when he came by where they lived, they yelled “Have mercy on us!”  He directed them to an act of faith. “Go show yourself to the priest.”  If a person’s skin issue cleared up, the priest could certify that and allow them to return to society. They had to act to receive what He offered!

Let’s pick up Luke’s storyline: "And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?" (Luke 17:14-17, NIV)  God met their faith and obedience with healing, which was, as you can imagine, a really big deal!  They could go home, resume life, reconnect with family.  But, this fact stuns me …  just one of the ten saw fit to go back and express his gratitude. Luke includes the detail that he was another kind of social outcast, a Samaritan; not a ‘true child of God’ in the opinion of the majority of people at that time.

Have you ‘returned’ to give thanks?  Did you start your day with gratitude for your salvation, for God’s love, that you are included in His family? OR, do you simply take such things for granted?

The foundation of true worship is praise, genuine appreciation of God in all of His mystery, wonder, and majesty. The Psalm says -

“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations." (Psalm 100:1-5, NIV)

In your prayers, occasionally do not ask for anything, but rather thank God … for people, for past joys, for mercy, for grace. Find a Psalm and read it as your prayer. Sing along with your favorite worship song. Overflow with thankgiving.  Something wonderful may happen. Faith will grows that allows you to present Him your needs and concerns without a demanding sense of entitlement!

Luke tells us that the Samaritan who returned to give thanks was effusive - ‘praising God in a loud voice.’  He was yelling, pointing at his new skin, jumping up and down, and crying. He didn’t kneel reverently when he found Jesus. He threw himself at His feet in an expression of complete humility, realizing he deserved nothing and received everything.  I hope my gratitude to God runs that deep, stirs me to a similar joy.  How about you?

Here’s a word from the Word, an ancient song sung by those who recalled the Lord’s mercies in restoring His people to their land and faith after a long time in captivity. Make it your song today.

"When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!
We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy.
And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”
Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!

Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert.

Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.
They weep as they go to plant their seed,
but they sing as they return with the harvest." (Psalm 126, NLT)

Don’t be one of the 9 who forgot to give thanks!
Be the 1 who worshipped!

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(Video of this blog at this link)

Goodness Of God

 

I love You Lord

Oh Your mercy never fails me

All my days

I've been held in Your hands

From the moment that I wake up

Until I lay my head

I will sing of the goodness of God

 

All my life You have been faithful

All my life You have been so so good

With every breath that I am able

I will sing of the goodness of God

 

I love Your voice

You have led me through the fire

In darkest night

You are close like no other

I've known You as a father

I've known You as a friend

I have lived in the goodness of God

 

Your goodness is running after

It’s running after me

Your goodness is running after

It’s running after me

With my life laid down

I’m surrendered now

I give You everything

Your goodness is running after

It's running after me

 

Ben Fielding, Brian Johnson, Ed Cash, Jason Ingram, Jenn Johnson

© 2018 Capitol CMG Paragon; SHOUT! Music Publishing Australia; Fellow Ships Music; So Essential Tunes; Bethel Music Publishing

CCLI License #810055