Turning your heart to heart to God, anew

My life, and yours, fills up with the important and trivial. Today I must finish preparation to teach a session tonight, answer some email inquiries, get an emergency lighting system working, pray for the congregation, schedule a plumber for some clogged drains among other things. If I forget ‘why’ I exist the ‘what’ of life will dim the glory of God for which I was made. He desires that we will know and love Him – even as we cope with disappointments and celebrate victories. That is why we need reset points and reminders.  

One of those seasons is called Lent by the church. Lent comes from an old word “lencten” which meant "spring."  It is a 40 day season, (not counting Sundays) that prepares Christians for the celebration of the Resurrection.

Historically, the season is marked by repentance and includes fasting, self-examination, and reflection.  Traditionally the opening of Lent is called "Ash Wednesday" because ashes made from palm fronds from the previous year's celebration of Palm Sunday traditionally are used by some churches to mark the forehead- a sign of our humility and a stark reminder of our inevitable encounter with death; that ‘ashes to ashes, dust to dust’ thing we say at gravesides. 

The discipline of fasting is most encouraged during this time of year. Fasting, in the most narrow meaning, is about abstaining from food.  Actually, there are many ways to practice the renewal of fasting. We can enter the joy of fasting by setting aside some pleasurable pursuit, time on social media, or some special food. We can fast by generously giving away our time in service, setting aside Self. Whatever our choice, it is done as a reminder that we are subject to the Spirit. Fasting is an act of obedience, offered in faith to God, that opens us to a new experience of the Holy Spirit’s Presence!

God made us with a spirit-body connection! What we do in our physical body has an effect on our spiritual state- both positively and negatively. Paul starkly says "So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:26-27, NLT)  A literal translation of the NT Greek would read “I pound my body into submission!”  God does not ask us to abuse ourselves. We need not actually beat ourselves bloody, but there is maturity in reminding ourselves that life is more than food, clothes, or comfort.

Remember this -  religious ritual, done for the purpose of impressing God and/or other people, is worse than useless!  It is a expression of sinful pride. That is why Jesus urged us to practice spiritual disciplines like fasting, giving, and prayer without telling anyone. Such choices, because they are acts of faith, must be very personal. Jesus told us to keep our fasting a private matter! Jesus said, "when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, who try to look pale and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I assure you, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will suspect you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in secret. And your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you." (Matthew 6:16-18 NLT) If we 'show off' or if we judge those who do not practice a discipline as we do, we rob the disciplines of any value. They become nothing more than the display of religion and empty traditions or worse, a means of making ourselves feel better than someone who does not share our conviction.

Will you give up ice cream for Lent?  If you do, do it for the purpose of seeking the Lord. (I think we might be better served by giving up some TV time for prayer, meditation or reading Scripture.) Don’t do it just because I said to. Rather, pray about it. Ask the Lord if you need to discipline your body to provide freedom for the Spirit, to allow for a reset.

Here’s a word from the Word about living in the Spirit. Think deeply and prayerfully on the promise of this passage.  "My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don’t you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence? …  What happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way." (Galatians 5:16-18, 22-23, The Message)

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Build My Life

(a beautiful prayer of worship and hope)

Worthy of ev’ry song we could ever sing

Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring

Worthy of ev’ry breath we could ever breathe

We live for You

Jesus the name above ev’ry other name

Jesus the only one who could ever save

Worthy of ev’ry breath we could ever breathe

We live for You

We live for You

Holy there is no one like You

There is none besides You

Open up my eyes in wonder and show me who You are

And fill me with Your heart

And lead me in Your love to those around me

I will build my life upon Your love

It is a firm foundation

I will put my trust in You alone

And I will not be shaken

Brett Younker | Karl Martin | Kirby Elizabeth Kaple | Matt Redman | Pat Barrett

© 2016 Martin, Karl Andrew (Admin. by Arkyard Music Services Limited)

Kaple Music (Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing)

Bethel Music Publishing

CCLI License # 810055

Vision Shift

Vision is critical. I attempted to walk through an unfamiliar room, in the dark, a few days ago. I stumbled over a chair I could not see, bruising my foot. My vision was impaired. So, let me ask you - How do you ‘see’ your life, your purpose? Lack of vision causes us to waste too many days, to seek minimal engagement, to regard our world as threatening or overwhelming, or to stumble around in confusion. A God-shaped vision sustains us in hard times, inspires us to reach higher, makes us a better person, because we ‘see’ what God sees!

As you look over those responsibilities that are part of this day, are you seeing only the weight of obligations that others are imposing on you, or are you taking opportunities that life (*and the Lord) are presenting to you?

There was a time when Elisha, the mighty preacher in Israel, was pursued by the king of Syria. The prophet and his servant were in a tiny village called Dothan when the army surrounded that place, ready to capture the preacher. The servant, seeing only with his limited vision, grew terrified. Elisha was blessed with divine insight and told that fearful man - "Don’t be afraid! For there are more on our side than on theirs!" Then Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!" The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. As the Aramean army advanced toward him, Elisha prayed, "O Lord, please make them blind." So the Lord struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked." (2 Kings 6:16-18, NLT) The facts did not change. They were facing a real threat. Vision shifted! There was another army (unseen by human eyes) that was even larger. Elisha’s sight was shaped by faith and that made all the difference!

God does not ask us to ignore the reality of our lives, but He does teach us that reality is not just what we see with our natural eyes!  Want to know the state of your vision?  Listen to what fills your prayers. Are you just asking the Lord for more money, better toys, more comfort, or easier situations in life? Or, do your prayers reflect a concern for the souls of friends and family and the world? Do you pray to be used of God or just for somebody else to step and do what He desires?

George Barna writes this about the kind of Christians that gain a God-shaped insight for life.

• People of prayer. Visionaries don’t stop praying about their calling. They keep at it, striving to remain sensitive to God’s leading as they seek to carry it out.

• People of action. They carry out a plan by organizing it into manageable steps. As they seek God’s provision along the way, sure enough, God grants them progress one step at a time.
• People of perseverance. Regardless of obstacles, they are driven to follow God’s leading. They are unshakable in their resolve to do His will.

• People of excitement. Life is no longer a grind. They know God has called them to a special outreach. This is an electrifying experience: why shouldn’t they be excited?  (Discipleship Journal, Issue 58)

Are you just surviving day to day? Are you drifting, filling up your life with things that are trivial?  Do you fear tomorrow?  Pray this simple line - "Lord, open my eyes and let me see!"
Trust God with that situation that you see as a problem. Ask Him to turn obligations into opportunities for the display of His Glory right where you are, at this present time.

Here's a word from the Word. Take it to heart and live it today.
"Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners, or
join in with scoffers.

But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants;
day and night they think about his law.

They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail.
Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper.

But this is not true of the wicked.
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
Sinners will have no place among the godly.

For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,

but the path of the wicked leads to destruction." (Psalm 1, NLT)

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Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou my Vision O Lord of my heart

Naught be all else to me save that Thou art

Thou my best thought by day or by night

Waking or sleeping Thy presence my light

Be Thou my Wisdom and Thou my true Word

I ever with Thee and Thou with me Lord

Thou my great Father I Thy true son

Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one

High King of heaven my victory won

May I reach heaven's joys bright heaven's Sun

Heart of my own heart whatever befall

Still be my Vision O Ruler of all

Eleanor Henrietta Hull | Mary Elizabeth Byrne | Russell Mauldin

© Words: Public Domain

Getting started is half the battle

I am looking out the window at several inches of wet snow on my driveway knowing that it must be cleared. Sipping my coffee, I’m putting it off – just for a while. There is about an hour of hard work to be done … later.

Is there something in your life that you’re avoiding or are you procrastinating, waiting for ‘a better time’ to deal with it?  In my experience, half the work is accomplished just by getting started.

On this Monday morning, here is a pointed question – are you putting off the disciplines of our faith?

Are you stuck spiritually-

your prayer life practically non-existent,

your commitment to worship sporadic,

your meditation in the Scripture too often pushed off for more screen time?

Do you need to make some difficult decisions about growing into maturity with Christ Jesus?

Half the battle will be won when you get started on a realistic plan. Too many Christians feel the tug of the Spirit and try to go from 0 to 60 in a day! If you’re not praying at all and you attempt to start with 30 sustained minutes in prayer, I predict you will soon give up.  If you haven’t cracked the covers of your Bible, except in church, for years, and you decide to spend an hour a day meditating on the Word, you’re not likely to succeed. Instead, get up 15 minutes earlier and spend that much time with God, with a prayer journal, and a guide to Scripture helping you.  Stick with it, through the up’s and down’s, through mornings when it seems like God is a million miles away. Your appetite for Him will grow, your capacity to pray increase. He will begin to reorder the priorities of your life around His.

Replace guilt, a terrible long-term motivator, with vision, which has real staying power. Who does God want you to become? What kind of person do you want to be? Then, get started.

"Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation. God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised." (Hebrews 6:9-12, NIV)

When God brought you into His family, when He gave you eternal life in Christ, He desired a productive disciple, a person who is truly making a Kingdom difference.  The choices you make in the hidden places of your life will become evident, Jesus promised. He said, “Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense His grace.”

Here is a word from the Word. Spend a few minutes praying your way through Peter’s inspired words. "And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to live a pure and blameless life. And be at peace with God … But grow in the special favor and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be all glory and honor, both now and forevermore. Amen." (2 Peter 3:14, 18, NLT)

That snowy driveway is waiting so I’m going to get started clearing it.
 

May the grace of Jesus bless and guide you,

May the wisdom of the Spirit fill your mind,

May the eternal care of the Father envelope you today.

Amen.