Where Inspiration and Choice Meet

“Do you have enough faith?” I asked myself in the quietness of the dawn. On the road of life ahead of me stands a range of mountains to climb, challenges for which I have few natural resources.  The ministry I serve needs to grow, but only God can make the seed of the Gospel take root and bring a harvest.  People for whom I care are wrestling with spiritual, emotional, and physical issues that my love alone cannot heal! Is it enough to say, “I trust God” or does faith require more?  Where do God’s inspiration and my choice meet to see His will accomplished here in this world?   Presumption, my choice alone, insists that God must endorse all my plans and efforts  if I just believe enough!   But, without eyes to ‘see’ what is presently over the horizon, God’s inspiration, I will not live in a way that honors Him.

Real faith rests on the Person of God, not on me.  My question about having enough faith is really one that is wrongly shaped. Instead of trying to convince myself about the possibilities that exist, I need to spend time with the One who creates those possibilities. If my life becomes a frenzy of activity, if my prayers are one long scream – ‘Answer me, God!’ – faith will die.  The Psalm says we can rest on Him. "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:1-2, NIV)  Serenity comes from living under His shadow. Easy to say, isn’t it?  But, oh so much more difficult to do when pressured by life’s trials!

When we settle ourselves on the person of God, submitted to Him, waiting for Him, ‘letting God, be God,’ we are able to hear the voice of the Spirit – one that brings assurance, one that encourages, one that guides us today.  When we know the will of God, we can go forward regardless of opposition, lack of funds, or limitations with a holy confidence that He will give us everything we need to do His will.  James reminds us of the folly of presumption that looks like faith but is not.  "Look here, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit." How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that." (James 4:13-15, NLT)

Jeremiah taught about living in God’s care this way:  "I went to the potter’s house, and sure enough, the potter was there, working away at his wheel. Whenever the pot the potter was working on turned out badly, as sometimes happens when you are working with clay, the potter would simply start over and use the same clay to make another pot. Then God’s Message came to me: "Can’t I do just as this potter does, people of Israel?" God’s Decree! "Watch this potter. In the same way that this potter works his clay, I work on you." (Jeremiah 18:3-6, The Message)   

Faith does not just say this , it acts on the reality that is unseen. God can do with us as He pleases.  He calls us into partnership with Him but does not make us god.   Jesus Christ taught consistently  that the choice of obedience is critical.   God allows us to resist His will, to walk away from His perfect plan OR to submit to Him and let Him shape us into a Masterpiece. Are you pliable in the hands of the Potter?  That, dear friend, is faith.   

Let God’s Word shape your understanding.  The word from the Word is a passage I love for what He declares.  No matter how many times I read it, it always inspires.  Read the truth slowly, savoring the revelation. "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:16-21, NIV)

Take my life, Lord, and use me. 
Lead me where You desire.
Keep me steady in trust equally in the storm and the sunshine, in winter and summer. 

To You be the glory.

In Jesus’ holy Name. Amen

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Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

You call me out upon the waters,

The great unknown, where feet may fail;

And there I find You in the mystery,

In oceans deep, my faith will stand.

And I will call upon Your name,

And keep my eyes above the waves.

When oceans rise,

My soul will rest in Your embrace,

For I am Yours and You are mine.

Your grace abounds in deepest waters.

Your sov'reign hand will be my guide.

Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me

You've never failed and You won't start now.

Spirit, lead me where my trust is without borders.

Let me walk upon the waters,

Wherever You would call me.

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger

In the presence of my Savior.

I will call upon Your name!

Keep my eyes above the waves!

My soul will rest in Your embrace,

I am Yours and You are mine.

Joel Houston | Matt Crocker | Salomon Ligthelm

© 2012 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

Never anxious, always careful!

When my life gets complicated (is it ever simple?) I tend to awaken sometime around 3 AM.  My thoughts begin, moving from personal things, to church matters, to unfinished business, to plans, to my children, to the last sermon I preached and the next one I’ll preach – in a tumbling, random manner.  I watch the time pass on the bedside clock, sometimes frustrated, but usually choosing to use those wakeful moments to carry people and problems into the Presence of the Lord. They are quiet prayers, more like murmurs of my heart.  They are not eloquent but flow out of my longing for His wisdom, for His Kingdom to come; first in my heart and then in my world!

Two decades ago, those times in the middle of the night would often cost me the rest of the night's rest. No more!  Now, I take them as an opportunity to spend some time with God: sometimes wordlessly turning each concern to Him, sometimes matching need to Scripture promise, sometimes just breathing a quiet, "Jesus, be Lord!"  And, after an hour or so, I rest again, knowing that my Father cares for me.

Note the point and counter-point in this word- “Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 5:5-11, NIV)  The NLT says, “Give your worries to God … be careful!”  We are called to rest on Him with a trust that whole and childlike, knowing that He already has made provision for us.  And yet, we must keep our wits about us. God’s care does not relieve us of our responsibilities.

The error some of us make is in trying to be God! We can never control every outcome. The Psalmist wrote, {127:1-2}

Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is useless.

Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.

It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night,

anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.

However, we know that God expects us to be diligent, to apply ourselves to gaining wisdom, to be fully engaged with life as we seek to make a Kingdom difference. If we are anxious to prove our worth by our work, if we attempt to nail down every variable as we try to secure ourselves against all threats, stress will overwhelm us.

We build a house, but only God controls the wind, the flood, the earthquake that can level it!
We post our guard to drive away thieves and robbers but only God can secure us against the wily, evil that comes from the Devil and those who do his work.
We diligently apply ourselves to getting the seed into the soil, but only God can make it grow!

We are thrifty and prepare for the winters of life, but only God can guarantee our home in Heaven.

Thus, Solomon, the writer of this Psalm, urges us to set aside anxiety and to trust our Sovereign Lord. 

Read it again: "If God doesn’t build the house, the builders only build shacks.
If God doesn’t guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap.
It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone.
Don’t you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves?" (Psalm 127, The Message)

Jesus says, "Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern."

Take this word from the Word and draw strength from the picture it paints.

"This is what the Lord says: "At just the right time, I will respond to you. On the day of salvation I will help you.
I will protect you and give you to the people as my covenant with them." (Isaiah 49:8, NLT)
"See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. Always in my mind is a picture of (your need)." (Isaiah 49:16, NLT)

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How Great Is Our God (Chris Tomlin sings)

The splendor of the King,

Clothed in majesty,

Let all the earth rejoice,

All the earth rejoice!

He wraps Himself in light,

And darkness tries to hide,

And trembles at His voice,

And trembles at His voice!

How great is our God!

Sing with me,

How great is our God!

And all will see, how great,

How great is our God!

And age to age He stands,

And time is in His hands,

Beginning and the End!

Beginning and the End!

The Godhead, three in one,

Father, Spirit, Son,

The Lion and the Lamb,

The Lion and the Lamb!

Name above all names.

Worthy of all praise.

My heart will sing,

How great is our God!

Chris Tomlin | Ed Cash | Jesse Reeves

© 2004 sixsteps Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

Wondrously Made Songs (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)

CCLI License # 810055

Faith on loan

May I borrow your faith?  A silly question to you, perhaps, but a story from Mark’s Gospel says otherwise.  Jesus went to Capernaum to teach and gathered a  standing room only crowd in the house where he was staying.  Four men came carrying a  man ‘sick of palsy’ (KJV), that is, paralyzed, to Jesus but they found the way to Him blocked.  Time to go home and try another day, right?  Not for these men!  They found a way onto the roof, tore a hole in it, and … well, let’s Mark tell the story.  "After digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” …  He said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them." (Mark 2:4-13, NIV)

One phrase stands out to me today – “When Jesus saw their faith.”  I do not know if the paralyzed man wanted to be there or believed that Jesus could heal him. But, what we can see is the active faith of four friends who brought him to the Lord! Their faith, on loan, is what Jesus noted and is that to which he responded.

This Monday morning you may in need of some borrowed faith!  Reach out to someone and ask for prayer.  Let them believe for you. James urges us to “pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.” (5:16, NLT)  

I encourage you to be aware of need around you, too!  Do not wait to be asked.  Mark’s story makes no mention that the paralyzed man asked for anything. His friends took charge.  I hope you have great vision for the world and pray for people all over the globe, but do not miss the needs that exist right in front of you.  Your neighbor may need to be carried to Jesus!  That person who works alongside of you may be ready to give up on life and in need of some borrowed faith.   Last week, after hearing news that hit us hard, Bev and I were like that man. We were overwhelmed with sadness.  In the evening several friends gathered, without being called, in our living room and lifted us on their prayers into the Presence of God. Their faith was active on our behalf!  What we could not do for ourselves, in that moment, they did for us.  Their prayers on our behalf were gifts of faith.

Here’s a word from the Word.  "Dear friends, continue to build your lives on the foundation of your holy faith. And continue to pray as you are directed by the Holy Spirit. Live in such a way that God’s love can bless you as you wait for the eternal life that our Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy is going to give you. Show mercy to those whose faith is wavering." (Jude 20-22, NLT)

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Father, I come to You today

Thanking You for the privilege You give to me

To be Your hands and feet in my world.

May I be ready to pick up those who are down,

To care tenderly for those whose faith is battered,

To lead those blinded by fear or doubt to You.

For those who have loaned their faith to me in the past,

I thank You and ask that Your rich goodness will be theirs.

Jesus, thank you for coming to us,

For loving us when we were unloving,

For inviting us to wholeness when we were sin sick.

Be honored today by our words,

Fill our thoughts, Spirit of God, with the things of the Kingdom.

In the Holy Name we pray

Amen.