Category: Encouragement

Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38-39

Last week, April 19, 2021, the message I posted was titled “Is Something Missing?”  It was about all the years I was missing a personal relationship with Jesus, even though I’d been in church from infancy all through my teenage and young adult years.  How could I not have heard about a personal relationship with Him?

This week I want to share my experience that is equally surprising and troubling.  How could I not have been introduced to the the truth about the Holy Spirit?

Growing up in the church my family attended, what I had been taught and what I observed left me actually afraid of the Holy Spirit!  I was taught that unless you “spoke in tongues,” you were not a Christian.  I really wanted to be a Christian, so I once made up some sounds that mimicked what I heard from others around me.  But I knew it wasn’t real for me, even then.  There are other examples I won’t go into here, but I didn’t want to have anything more to do with the Holy Spirit!

I realized much later in life that what I had been taught and observed was not biblical. What I know now, and believe with all my heart, is from Scripture.  We are not even capable of living the life God calls us to live without complete dependence on the Holy Spirit.  We can’t experience all God has for us without the Holy Spirit who lives in every believer.

The book Forgotten God by Francis Chan was life-changing for me.  In the introduction, he states “There is a big gap between what we read in Scripture about the Holy Spirit and how most believers and churches operate today.”  He points out that something is missing – “actually a missing Someone – namely, the Holy Spirit.”  He begins the first chapter with the title, “I’ve Got Jesus.  Why Do I Need the Spirit?” I very highly recommend this book! 

A couple of years ago, I studied the Scriptures about the Holy Spirit with the women in the weekly Bible study I lead.  I can only share here a few of the foundational truths that I wish I’d know many years ago.

There are many verses in the Old Testament that say that the Spirit “came upon” someone (i.e. prophets, judges, Saul, David, and others).  That is one of the ways God communicated in the Old Testament.

Hear Jesus’ words to His disciples as He was preparing them for His departure from the earth after His death and resurrection.  This is a foundational truth that I encourage you to receive:

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. (John 14:16)

(Notice:  He will not just be upon you, but in you!)

Jesus tells His disciples in John 16:7 I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. He was speaking of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit that Jesus promised came on the day of Pentecost, 50 days after Jesus was crucified.  Acts 2:38-39 is the message that Peter preached on that day.  It’s the message I needed to hear, and every believer needs to be assured of:  Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes to indwell everyone who has received the gift of salvation through faith in Jesus, His death for the forgiveness of our sins, and resurrection which promises us new life in Him now, and for all eternity with Him.

WHY DO WE NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT?

Illustration of the lamp

My daughter, Kim, got a beautiful mental picture from the Lord about the Holy Spirit’s power in our life.  In her mind, she saw a little lamp sitting on the floor, and the lamp was saying to itself, “I really want to make light… I’ll try really hard… I know I can do it if I just try harder…”  Right next to the lamp was the electric cord which needed to be plugged in to the electrical outlet.  As soon as it was plugged in, the light shone brightly. 

That’s the way the Holy Spirit works in our life.  He is the source of unlimited power to do what God has planned for our life, the power source that we can “plug into.”  Our pastor a few years ago encouraged us to dwell on the theme of “Desperate Dependence.” We need to be depending on the Spirit moment by moment throughout every day! But we have the choice –to depend on the Holy Spirit, or to try to do life on our own. On our own, we cannot accomplish what God calls us to do, to live the way He asks us to live.  It is the Spirit that gives us the wisdom, understanding, the ability, the desire to grow in our love relationship with God, to live in the center of God’s will instead of our own. We need to be “plugged in” by complete dependence on Him.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

As a believer, are you aware of your need for complete dependence on the Holy Spirit?

Are you “plugged into Him” as the source of power to live the life God has planned for you?

What choices do you need to make in order to live in complete dependence on the Spirit?

…He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6

Raised in a family that went to church every Sunday, I grew up hearing the Bible stories in Sunday School and attended youth groups through high school.  I learned a lot about Jesus.

After getting married, my husband and I realized there was something missing in our lives.  I thought we were both Christians at the time, but we met with a man at church who we thought could help us figure out what was missing.  He listened to us, asked us a few questions, and here was his conclusion:  We had both been in church all our lives and had taken in a lot of information about the Bible, but we weren’t giving anything out.  We were like stagnant ponds, he said.  He told us what we were missing was a job in the church. They happened to need Sunday School superintendents.  We were very young, still teenagers, but we figured we better take the job if that’s what was missing.  We did that for a couple of years and fulfilled our duties. But obviously there was still something missing!

After my husband graduated from college, we moved to another state for graduate school. We didn’t know anyone, and no one was expecting us to attend church. Away from family and the church we had attended, it became easier not to attend church at all.  There was a part of me that felt somewhat guilty for not being in church, but after a time, it became easier to just stay home on Sunday mornings and spend time with the kids.

After graduate school, we moved again.  I soon got acquainted with our new neighbor. Linda and I were driving together one day doing errands, and we happened to see a sign up on a hill for Cathedral Oaks Christian Church.  That started a conversation about our past experiences and why we hadn’t been attending church for several years.  We agreed that it was time for us to start taking our kids to church again.  A few weeks later, we did. 

Whatever I had been missing, I knew that first visit that the pastor had it. He was different than any other person I knew. He talked about Jesus like he really knew Him. The pastor visited me in my home a few weeks later.  I told him about my experience of feeling something was missing.  After telling him the rest of the story, he very wisely concluded that what was missing was not a job in the church, but a personal relationship with Jesus.  Attending church my whole life and knowing a lot of information about God and Jesus did not save me. The pastor explained that the Lord calls us to a loving relationship with Him as Lord of our lives, willing to turn our lives over to Him and follow His will instead of our own. 

After a couple more months of listening to his teaching, I realized I had never truly committed my life to Jesus.  It became clear that God was calling me to do that, to love Him and follow Him, whatever the cost. I came to understand that was what was missing all those years. A few weeks later, I made that decision to invite Jesus to be my Savior and Lord. I was baptized, and began a lifelong relationship with Him. There is a vast difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing Him personally, His love, His forgiveness, His plan and purpose for my life.

It still amazes me how I could sit in church week after week in my early years and not hear the message of the need to be saved and have a personal relationship with the Lord. I had never been in a Bible study before, to learn God’s truth from His Word and apply it to my life.  My new pastor encouraged that and taught me how to study. I began to grow more in love with Jesus and follow His will for my life.  Thankfully, God promises that He will complete the good work that He has begun as we turn over our lives to Him (Philippians 1:6). It’s a process that will continue our whole life until we see Him in heaven.

More recently I discovered that there was still something missing. I’ll write about that next week! 

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Can you identify with the feelings I had about feeling that something is missing in your life, even if you thought you were a Christian?

You may have been a believer for a long time. Have you made that personal commitment to seek His will for your life and follow wherever He leads you?

Are you growing in your love for the Lord through studying His Word and getting to know Him more?

You can ask God to show you if there is more He wants you to experience in a personal relationship with Him.

God So Loved the World that He gave His only Son…

John 3:16

“Compassion that leads to action.”  I came across that phrase recently.  I wish I could remember where I read it!  But it stuck in my mind, and I’ve been thinking about it a lot. 

There can be no better example than the recent Easter season that we just celebrated.  God was willing to give His own Son, and Jesus willingly sacrificed His own life to save us from the death penalty of sin that we all deserve.  Matthew 26:53 tells Jesus’ words “do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” Jesus knew His Father’s will and He was willing to die instead of saving Himself.

True compassion goes beyond just feeling sympathy or pity for someone who is suffering. I’m thinking of the time Jesus took a boat to a solitary place where He had gone to be alone (Matthew14:13-21).   The people heard about it, and “when He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.” You are probably familiar with this story.  When evening came, the disciples came to Jesus and reminded Him that it was late and the people were hungry.  They told Him to send the crowds away so they could go to the villages and buy themselves some food.  I’m sure that was the only solution they could think of.  Instead, Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.” An impossible situation!  There were 5,000 men besides women and children!  The only food they could come up with was five loaves of bread and two fish!  But Jesus said, “Bring them to Me.”  In Jesus’ hands, it became enough to feed the entire multitude with 12 baskets of food leftover!

I’m convicted as I read this Scripture.  I realize that often my initial reaction when I hear of someone suffering and in need is similar to the disciples “Lord, send them away.”  Their situation seems impossible, and I don’t know how to fix it!  Maybe someone else can meet that need.  

We read the parable Jesus told about the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37.  A man had been attacked and beaten and left half dead on the road.  Two religious leaders, a priest and a Levite, saw the man but passed by on the other side of the road.  It was a Samaritan, despised by the Jews, who took pity and stopped to meet the need.  His compassion led to action.  He was willing to set aside his own agenda and sacrifice his time and money to meet the needs of this injured man.

The Lord has commanded that we love Him with all our heart, soul, strength and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.  (Mark 12:28-31) The parable of the Good Samaritan was Jesus’ answer to the question asked of Him, “Who is my neighbor?” What is the response that would please the Lord when a need comes to my attention?  First, I want to follow the example of the disciples — bring the need to Jesus.  I can pray and ask Him if there is something specific He wants me to do to meet the need. I may not have the answers myself, but I can trust Him. The Holy Spirit living in us can enable us to compassionately reach out to those in need with the wisdom and the resources He will provide abundantly.

Lord, I pray for I pray for your love and  a heart of compassion that is willing to sacrifice to meet the needs that you bring to my attention — a heart of compassion that leads to action.

He will come to us like the rain, like spring rain watering the earth.

Hosea 6:3

Living through several years of drought in California gave me a new appreciation for rain.  I used to think of rain as just a nuisance, something that would spoil my plans for a tennis match or a hike.  Those who have lived in drought conditions remember the changes that occur — landscaping dies as strict water rationing is enforced; the hillsides that were once lush and green turn dry and brown, and the danger of fire increases dramatically. Things we once took for granted, like washing the car, taking long showers, even flushing the toilet after every use, become strongly discouraged luxuries.

            Have you ever experienced a spiritual drought?  God seems far away.  The desire to spend time with Him is gone.  The time spent with Him out of sheer obedience seems unproductive and ineffective.  I remember times like that when I even began to question whether or not I am really a Christian.  Surely a true Christian would not feel so out of touch with God or have so little desire for fellowship with Him.  Unfortunately, the problem is magnified as we follow our feelings and choose to isolate ourselves, not only from God, but from church, Christian friends, or other opportunities for fellowship.

            Many have experienced this feeling of distance from God at some time in their Christian life.  For me personally, it has been the result of disobedience.  I made the choice to go my own way instead of listening to God. I began to think that God wouldn’t even want me to come back to Him.  I didn’t deserve to ask Him for help.

            These thoughts could not be further from the truth. One thing is certain:  God does not intend for us to continue in a spiritual drought. Scriptures tell us that God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22).  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).  Jesus told the parable of the prodigal son whose father welcomed him back with great joy (Luke 15:11-24). 

            Isaiah 41:17-20 clearly shows God’s desire to restore life to our dry and thirsty souls:

The poor and needy are seeking water, but there is none, and their tongues are parched with thirst; I, the Lord, will answer them Myself; as the God of Israel I will not abandon them.  I will open rivers on the bare heights, and springs in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land fountains of water…that they may see and recognize, and consider and gain insight as well, that the hand of the Lord has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it.

We have just celebrated the resurrection of Jesus! As He was raised from the dead and ascended back into heaven, He offers living water, His Holy Spirit, to live in all who believe and receive Him as Lord and Savior. He will never leave us, and we can experience life in His presence daily, no matter what season of life we are in, no matter what our circumstances are. We can trust Him for His lifegiving living water!

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Is your current walk with the Lord better characterized by “spring rain” or “drought?”  If your answer is “spring rain,” take time now to thank God for the refreshing sense of His presence you are enjoying.

If your answer is “drought,” ask the Lord to reveal anything that needs to be confessed and forgiven.   Ask Him what He wants to teach you during the drought period.  These desert experiences can provide rich times of learning. Trust that He will restore you in His time and create fountains of renewal and refreshment.

Consider writing a prayer of thanksgiving for His living water, the Holy Spirit.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face

1 Corinthians 13:12a

Ever since studying art history, English literature, and the history of Western civilization in college as an adult, I have had the desire to travel and visit the places I have only seen on large screens in the lecture hall or read about in books.  I traveled with a friend on a two-week trip to England soon after we graduated.  Wandering through palaces and castles where many hundreds of years of history have unfolded was an unforgettable experience.  We stood in the bedchamber where King Henry VIII slept four centuries ago and walked through the castle built by the order of William the Conqueror near the end of the 11th century.  We attended a service in the magnificent Canterbury Cathedral where Archbishop Thomas a’ Becket was martyred in the 12th century. We climbed the steps where thousands had come to see his shrine hoping for miracles of healing, pilgrimages that inspired Chaucer’s writing of The Canterbury Tales.  We strolled through art galleries and viewed the original paintings of my favorite Impressionist artists.  We visited the British Museum and saw the original manuscripts of some of the British authors and poets we had both studied so diligently.

            As I reflected on how much greater it is to see these relics of history in person than to merely read about them in textbooks or view them as a slide show, it made me think of what it will be like when we see our Father face to face in heaven.  Scripture tells us that now we see him as through a mirror dimly (1 Corinthians 13:12).  It’s like trying to see in a foggy mirror after a hot shower.  We can’t see a clear image.   We can read about God in the Bible and know Him personally through the indwelling Holy Spirit.  But it is only a shadow of what it will be like when we stand in His presence. 

            Right now, in the limitations of our human body, we could not even see Him in all His glory and live.  But someday we will be changed, and we will be able to stand in His presence and see Him in the fullness of His majesty and glory.  We can read about heaven in the Bible and try to imagine what it will be like, but we are told that things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the human heart, all that God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9). 

            We can’t even begin to imagine what it will be like!  The most magnificent cathedral with the sun gleaming through the stained-glass windows and the angelic sound of a boys’ choir filling the vast heights cannot begin to compare with what is yet to come when someday we will be with God in person.  Every knee will bow …and every tongue will confess that Jesus Chris is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11).

            Castles, palaces, works of art, entire civilizations come and go, but God is the same yesterday, today and forever.  And we can be assured that someday we will no longer have to see just a shadow of His glory — we will see Him face to face. 

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Are you putting your faith and hope in anything besides God — financial security, material possessions, a career, physical ability, talents, a husband or wife, children?  All of these are temporary, even if you have them for your entire life here on earth.

Are you spending your life on things that will wither and fade away?  Or are you living your life in the truth of God’s Word, that only what is done for Him, through the strength and ability He provides, will last for all eternity?

Take time to evaluate before God how you are living the life He has given you.  What will be your response when you see Him face to face?  Will it be one of joyful fulfillment of the growing relationship you have had with Him here? 

What changes do you need to make in your life in light of the truth that only the Word of our God stands forever?

Whatever a man sows, this he will also reap…and let us not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we shall reap, if we do not grow weary.

Galatians 6:7-9

Sowing and reaping used in these verses give us the picture of planting seeds in the ground and the assurance of a harvest to come.  Long ago, a friend gave me the leaf of a plant so I could start my own.  She instructed me to put the leaf in water until roots were established, then plant it in a pot and wait for new leaves to appear.  She said that the new leaves would start at the roots before they were visible above the soil.  After what seemed like a very long time, I became impatient and began digging under the soil to see if any new leaves were being produced.  In the process, I broke off the parent leaf and, out of frustration, threw the whole thing in the garbage.

            I’ve read these verses in Galatians many times in the past, but I often need to be reminded of the message.  In the past, I volunteered at a drug and alcohol recovery program.  There were several times when I found myself asking “Why am I doing this?”  It is heartbreaking to work with people who have made the decision to make a change in their lives, to recover from their addiction, and then suddenly leave the program and go back to the drugs and alcohol.  When I began to question why I was doing this, the answer was always the same.  God reminded me that I was there because this is where He wanted me to be. 

            Whatever God has called us to do, that is what is “good.”  And He encourages us not to lose heart in doing good.  Don’t give up.  Maybe you are a parent struggling with the frustrations that come with being responsible for preschoolers day and night. Or perhaps you have an extremely difficult employer .  Maybe your marriage is not going the way you would like it to and you’re tired of trying to make it better.  Ask God to show you if you are where He wants you to be.  Ask Him for the resources to continue to be faithful and to give you His strength for what He has called you to do.

            Jesus tells us, Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit (John 12:24). He is speaking of our lives.  Have you made the commitment to “die” to your own desires and demands and to ask the Lord to give you His new life?  That is the only way our lives will ever produce the harvest of eternal fruit.

            We may never see all the fruit of the seeds that have been planted in the lives of the people we work with, but God promises there will be fruit.  If we are faithful to God in the ministry He has called us to, that is all that matters.  In everything we do, we are to do it as unto Him.  He is responsible for producing the fruit.  If we are “sowing” God’s seeds, we can be assured of a fruitful harvest.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Where has God called you to “sow?”  Is it in your family?  Your marriage?  Your church? Your neighborhood?  Your job?  School?  Caring for elderly parents?

Consider your attitude toward the place God has called you.  Are you serving as unto Him?  Are you willing to continue “sowing” even if you are not able to see the “fruit?”

Are you discouraged about where you are right now?  Ask God to show you if you are where He wants you to be. 

Are you willing to die to your own desires and demands in order to be where God wants you to be?  Ask Him to make you willing to be like the grain of wheat that must fall into the ground and die before it can bear fruit.

Remember that we are only responsible to sow faithfully where God has placed us.  He is responsible for producing the fruitful harvest.

Those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired; they will walk and not become weary.

Isaiah 40:31

What does it mean to wait for the Lord?  Think of servants waiting upon a master.  They don’t act on their own initiative. They wait for instructions and strive to please the master, and they obey without question.

            Waiting for clear direction and answers to prayer is difficult for most of us.  We want a clear answer right now.  At times we may begin to doubt whether we will hear the Lord when He does answer.  When I struggle with waiting, I remind myself of the truth in Isaiah 30:21 And your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left.  I am convinced that if we truly seek guidance from the Lord and are willing to follow whatever He says, He will guide us.  It may not come exactly according to our time schedule, and we may not get the answer we want to hear, but His answer will come.  In the meantime, we are to wait patiently until we do hear His answer (Psalm 37:7).

            One of my favorite Scripture illustrations of waiting on the Lord is the account of Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus. She sat quietly listening to Him as He taught.  Her sister, Martha, was busy in the kitchen preparing food for the guests.  Of course, that was a necessary activity, but it was Martha’s attitude that Jesus pointed out when she complained that Mary wasn’t helping her.  Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one (Luke 10:41).  Jesus told her that Mary had chosen the good part which shall not be taken away from her.

            Being bothered and distracted is the opposite of waiting upon the Lord.  I really notice the difference in my life when I am not spending quality quiet time alone with the Lord.  Soon everything gets a little out of focus and I don’t have clear direction about how to spend my time each day.  Little things that normally wouldn’t bother me get blown out of proportion and somehow seem frustrating or unmanageable.

            Jesus Himself set the example for us to follow.  He would get up while it was still dark and go to a place where He could be alone with the Father (Mark 1:35).  He could talk over the coming events and receive the Father’s wisdom and direction to accomplish His will.

            Years ago, I would get up early every morning (even Saturday and Sunday) to have a quiet time.  But I have to admit my attitude was not right.  I was doing it out of a sense of duty.  After all, isn’t this what a good Christian has to do daily?  Often, I would fall asleep reading the Bible, or my mind would wander as I had the Bible study notebook open on my lap.  This was not productive and couldn’t have been very pleasing to God.  I began to ask the Lord to change my attitude and give me a true desire to spend time with Him.  He has accomplished that change in me. Writing regularly in a journal is a helpful way to record ideas and insights from scripture, specific things that God is doing in my life, prayers for clear direction, Scriptures that have special meaning for me. I can look back and be encouraged by what the Lord is teaching me and clear answers to prayers for direction and wisdom.

            Once I have my time alone with God in the morning and commit the day and myself to Him, I trust that I am in tune with His perspective on what things are truly important.  I can then walk through each day with a calmness and stability that comes from complete dependence and trust in Him.

            This hymn beautifully describes the attitude of waiting on the Lord: 

“Have Thine own way, Lord, have Thine own way.  Thou art the potter, I am the clay.  Mold me and make me after Thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.”

If we too often find ourselves like Martha, worried and distracted by so many things, we can ask God to help us choose to sit quietly at His feet like Mary and focus on the things He shows us to do.  We will be able to go through each day with wisdom, strength and the peace He provides.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

In what ways do you identify with Martha?

In what ways do you identify with Mary?

Is time alone with God a priority in your life? 

Describe your present attitude toward Bible study, church attendance, and quiet times with the Father.

Ask Him to show what changes need to be made.

He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters; He restores my soul…

Psalm 23:2-3

Years ago, I restored an old piece of furniture.  It was a solid wood dresser that my dad had built for me when I was a baby. It was just the right size and very sturdy, but it had been painted several times over the years with colors I would never choose again.  So, I began the process of stripping off the paint.  A lot of it came off with the first application of paint remover, and another application took off even more. I used sandpaper to remove the rest.  Once the old paint was completely removed, I stained it and we could finally use the beautifully finished product. It was a long process, but worth every moment!

            The Scripture about God restoring my soul came to mind after a time of walking away from the Lord and choosing my own way.  My soul — my mind, will and emotions — definitely needed to be restored.  I was confused and felt helpless to “fix” myself and my marriage. As I prayed and asked God to help me find my way back, He led me to a Christian counselor who was clearly His answer to my prayer.   The journey was long and painful, but even in the emotional pain, there was assurance that God was doing a work in me that would lead to emotional and spiritual healing. 

             The process that leads to restoration of a right relationship with God begins in our mind.  We are told in Romans 8:6-13 The mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace…If by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.  Just as layers of paint had to stripped away to restore my childhood dresser, so we have layers of “self” that need to be stripped away, sin that needs to be forgiven and cleansed in order to restore the beauty of the image of Christ in us. 

            Romans 12:2 instructs us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind.  How is our mind renewed?  We must choose not to give into the temptations Satan offers us.  Instead, we need to focus on truth. I’ll never forget a retreat speaker who encouraged us to check out every thought that comes to mind.  She said, “Philippians 4:8 it.”  That verse says, Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind think about these things.  We are to check every thought against this standard, and if it doesn’t meet the qualifications, don’t think about it!  We would save ourselves so much grief and pain and sin if we would follow this guideline. 

            A right relationship with God is restored immediately as we confess our sins and receive His forgiveness.  Restoration of our soul — mind, will, and emotions — takes time.  Healing will come as we focus on the truth of God’s Word, not on feelings, not on what we think we need to make us happy. 

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Read Romans 8:6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.

Is there an area of your life right now that needs to be restored? Have you been damaged by choices you have made yourself?  Have you been damaged by actions of someone else?

Ask the Lord to reveal the areas in your life that need to be restored.  Remember that the process of restoring your soul begins as you turn to the Lord and set your mind on His truth.  Trust Him to do the work in you to bring you back to a right relationship with Himself. 

He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. . .

Psalm l:3

Living through several years of drought in California gave me a new appreciation for rain.  I used to think of rain as just a nuisance, something that would spoil my plans for a tennis match or a hike.  Those who have lived in drought conditions remember the changes that occur — landscaping dies as strict water rationing is enforced; the hillsides that were once lush and green turn dry and brown, and the danger of fire increases dramatically. Things we once took for granted, like washing the car, taking long showers, even flushing the toilet after every use, become strongly discouraged luxuries.

            Have you ever experienced a spiritual drought?  God seems far away.  The desire to spend time with Him is gone.  The time spent with Him out of sheer obedience seems unproductive and ineffective.  I remember times like that when I even began to question whether or not I am really a Christian.  Surely a true Christian would not feel so out of touch with God or have so little desire for fellowship with Him.  Unfortunately, the problem is magnified as we follow our feelings and choose to isolate ourselves, not only from God, but from church, Christian friends or other opportunities for fellowship.

            Many have experienced this feeling of distance from God at some time in their Christian life.  For me personally, it has been the result of disobedience.  I made the choice to go my own way instead of listening to God. I began to think that God wouldn’t even want me to come back to Him.  I didn’t deserve to ask Him for help.

            These thoughts could not be further from the truth. One thing is certain:  God does not intend for us to continue in spiritual drought. Scriptures tell us that God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22).  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).  Jesus told the parable of the prodigal son whose father welcomed him back with great joy (Luke 15:11-24). 

            Isaiah 41:17-20 clearly shows God’s desire to restore life to our dry and thirsty souls:

The poor and needy are seeking water, but there is none, and their tongues are parched with thirst; I, the Lord, will answer them Myself; as the God of Israel, I will not abandon them.  I will open rivers on the bare heights, and springs in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land fountains of water…that they may see and recognize, and consider and gain insight as well, that the hand of the Lord has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Is your current walk with the Lord better characterized by “spring rain” or “drought?”  If your answer is “spring rain,” take time now to thank God for the refreshing sense of His presence you are enjoying.

If your answer is “drought,” ask the Lord to reveal anything that needs to be confessed and forgiven.   Ask Him what He wants to teach you during the drought period.  These desert experiences can provide rich times of learning. Trust that He will restore you in His time and create fountains of renewal and refreshment.  Write your prayer of response to Him.

I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, my soul will be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness…

Isaiah 61:10

Have you ever struggled with the concept that God loves you as an individual?  Since I was a baby, I have been in church nearly every Sunday. From a very early age, I knew the songs like “Jesus Loves Me” and verses like John 3:16, For God so loved the world…  But it wasn’t until many years later that God made His personal love for me a reality – one I now experience in my heart as well as know intellectually.

            I always believed God loved the whole world.  I never questioned that.  But for a long time, I thought, “Therefore, God loves me since I am part of the world.”  But sometimes when I tried to imagine what heaven would be like, I visualized millions of people crowding around the Lord, leaving me on the edge of the crowd trying to get a glimpse of Him. 

            I was reading the Bible one day, struggling with thoughts like that, and I came across this verse in Isaiah 61:10 He has wrapped me in a robe of righteousness.  I was 45 years old at the time but had graduated from college only a couple months earlier.  I thought about graduation day and exactly how it felt to put on my graduation robe and walk into the stadium with more than 6,000 other students to receive our college degrees.  That day, even though there were thousands of other students robed just like me, I felt like a unique individual, like the ceremony was just for me!  I suppose not all college graduates experience that same magic, but I did. 

            So, when I read the verse in Isaiah, the picture became delightfully clear – Jesus wrapped me personally in His robe of righteousness.  And just as no one can ever take away my college degree, no one can ever take away my salvation, my robe of righteousness, my assurance of His love for me personally.  I also began to understand that no one can ever earn that righteousness. The Bible teaches that “there is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10). And Romans 3:23 tells us “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The only way to be righteous in God’s sight is to receive the forgiveness of sin through Jesus’ death on the cross. He paid the penalty for the sins of the world, and as we receive His gift of salvation, we are wrapped in His robe of righteousness.

I began to really understand that heaven will bring uninterrupted intimacy with the Lord.  It is still difficult to conceive with my finite mind how unlimited numbers of people can all experience intimacy with Him at the same time.  But since I can see clear evidence of it happening here on earth, it can only be even better in heaven. 

Think of the verse that says, Things which eye has not seen, and which have not entered the human heart, all that God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9). We can’t even begin to comprehend in our wildest imaginations the wonder of what it will be like to be with Him without the limitations of time and space and finite minds and sin.

            If you have not yet grasped the reality of God’s love for you personally, ask Him to reveal it in a way that you can understand.  You may have been a Christian for many years and still not fully grasp it.  But it is truly life-changing when God’s love becomes a reality.  Ask God to let you experience it in your heart as well as in your mind.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Have you experienced in your heart the truth that God loves you as an individual?  Describe how you came to that knowledge.

If you haven’t personally experienced God’s love, or you only understand it intellectually, ask God to reveal it to you in a way that will be meaningful to you and touch your heart.

What does it mean to you to be wrapped in a robe of righteousness?

…He rescued me because He delighted in me.

Psalm 18:19

The truth of this verse amazes me!  God delights in us while we still need rescuing! – before we even know Him as our Savior, while still entrapped in sin, while we still suffer consequences of our own sin or the sin of others against us.  He rescues us!

When I read this verse a few years ago, I thought, “How is it possible that a holy God, creator of the entire universe, can delight in me?”  As I pondered, I thought about how much I delight in my grandson, Marshall.  Of course, I delight in all six of my grandsons, but Marshall especially came to mind at that moment.  It was not great intellectual accomplishments, not amazing athletic ability – he was only 2 years old!  What delighted me was his love for me, his delight in coming to Nana and Papa’s house, his “thank you” for everything we give him, his trust in me as he jumped off the edge of the pool into my arms, his charming attempts at “swimming” as I held him taught him to kick his feet and reach with his arms.  I loved his great joy when we sat and read together and when he was learning to play baseball in our back yard.

So I believe the Lord delights in me when He sees my heart longing to be nearer to Him, my love for spending the early morning quiet times with Him.  He sees my desire to know His Word and live in the center of His will, my trust growing day by day as I take steps to follow wherever He leads, to encourage others in their faith journey.

            God understands our weaknesses.  If we stumble and fall into sin, it never changes the fact that God loves us.  The words of Psalm 103:10-14 comfort and encourage me:

He has not dealt with us according to our sins nor rewarded us according to our guilty deeds.  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.  As far as east is from the west, so far has He removed our wrongdoings from us.  Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.  For He Himself knows our form; He is mindful that we are nothing but dust.

It is life-changing to realize God has always loved me, even before I knew Him.  I learned there is nothing I do that makes Him love me anymore than He already does.  Nothing I do makes Him love me any less. His unconditional love truly amazes me and fills me with security and gratitude. 

This is my prayer: “Lord, help me to delight in you, in your constant presence, in your clear direction as you design each day for me, as you take my hand and walk with me through it. Help me to experience your pure delight in me. Help me to come to you each day in child-like love, joy in your presence, being with you and enjoying the wonders of your creation, enjoying the people you bring into my life, the simplicity and purity of devotion to you.  I trust in your love and goodness, your sovereignty, absolute control over all the events of my life.  Lord, as I meditate on your Word and the truth you share with me, give me a heart that wants to share my joy and delight with you over the new things you teach me.”

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Think of specific times when God rescued you.  Meditate on the fact of God’s love for you, even when you sin and need to be rescued.  His love is not something we can ever earn or deserve — it is a gift!

Have you discovered God’s limitless unconditional love for you?  Have you experienced it, not just intellectually but in your heart? 

Remember, if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, He has removed your sins, as far as east is from the west! (Psalm 103: 12). Take time to thank Him for that gift of unconditional love and forgiveness.  Consider writing your prayer of gratitude.

How are you experiencing God’s delight in you?  What an incredible thought, that we can bring delight to Almighty God! 

But You, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory and the One who lifts my head.

Psalm 3:3

One morning over breakfast, I shared with a friend a difficult situation I was struggling with.  She said the verse she had read in the Bible that morning might help me.  “But You, Lord,, are a shield around me, my glory and the One who lifts my head.”  To be honest, I didn’t find it very helpful right then, but I thanked her for listening and sharing with me.

            When I got into the car to drive home, I turned on my Christian radio station.  The words of the song that immediately came on said: “Thou, O Lord, are a shield about me.  You’re my glory and the lifter of my head.”  I realized it was not mere coincidence that I would hear those same words twice within a half-hour period. So, I turned off the radio and prayed, “Lord, this must be a message you want very much for me to hear.  But I really don’t understand what it means.  Please show me.”

            A mental picture came right away of a hand reaching down and gently touching my chin, lifting my head upwards.  A question came to mind: Where are your eyes directed when your head is lifted upwards?  They no longer look at the surrounding circumstances, but instead directed toward God.  I was reminded of Peter when he jumped out of the boat and began walking on the water toward Jesus.  As long as Peter looked at Jesus, he could walk on the water — he could do the impossible. But as soon as he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the waves surrounding him, he began to sink (Matthew 14:29-30).

            Life is like that for us, too.  If we let our eyes focus on the difficult circumstances around us, we can easily become overwhelmed and begin to sink.  Are you feeling desperate or hopeless about something in your life right now?  Maybe you identify with Peter and feel like you are beginning to sink.  Remember the picture of Jesus, the lifter of your head, reaching down to lift your face toward Him.  A familiar hymn shares the same message: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face.  And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” 

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Are circumstances in your life right now causing you to feel like you are sinking in the waves surrounding you? What are these circumstances?

Read Philippians 4:6-7. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.  God has told us, “Be anxious for nothing” — nothing!  There is no situation that you are facing that is too difficult for God.

Focus your thoughts on God and choose to trust Him with your seemingly impossible circumstances.  When the anxious thoughts return, and they certainly will, stop what you are doing and consciously ask God to “lift” your head” so your eyes can see Him.

I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

                                                                2 Corinthians 11:3

When I read this verse for the first time, I remember being captivated by the words “simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”  I was struggling to decide which method of Bible study to use.  Having attended church most of my life, and participating in weekly women’s Bible studies for many years,  I knew the Bible pretty well and could answer most questions in the fill-in-the-blank studies without even opening the Bible if I wanted to.  I was attempting to learn another method that would enable me to study any part of Scripture on my own.  I got too caught up in the method and lost sight of the purpose of studying the Word.

Satan can use even something as necessary and valuable as Bible study to lead us astray from simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.  Bible study methods are helpful tools to understand the Word of God, but knowing who God is, and who we are, and how He wants us to live needs to be the focus of our study of the Word.  I need to do an attitude check often.  Is devotion to Christ my highest goal, or am I caught up in all the trappings — Which method?   Which group shall I attend? Am I spending time in the Word to get to know God better, or am I just going through the routine of attending Bible studies because that’s what is expected?

            Instead, I should be asking, “How is my relationship with Jesus?  Am I getting to know Him better through the study of His Word?  Do I desire to know His will for each day?  Am I willing to obey when He shows me something specific I need to act on? Am I depending on the Holy Spirit to accomplish what God is calling me to do? Do I love God more than everything and everyone else?”

            As believers, we can easily commit to many good things, both at church and in the community. I remember when my life consisted of Bible study leaders’ meetings, group meetings, Steering Committee meetings, monthly gatherings for a special speaker at the church, and lots of time spent with friends who were hurting and needing someone to listen. Again, all these are good things, but I’ve learned the importance of asking God what He wants me to be doing for Him.  I want to be doing what He is calling me to do, not merely because there is a position in the church that needs to be filled.

            I encourage you to take time with the Lord and ask Him to show you what is His plan is for you.  If we are too busy to spend quality time with Him, we are too busy.  Ask God to lead you to what He has planned for you, a heart that is focused on “simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”   

PERSONAL REFLECTION

What evidence do you see in your life that devotion to Christ is your highest goal?

Is there evidence that would indicate you have been led astray from that goal?

Ask God to help you recognize areas of your life that Satan can use to lead you away from simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 

Let’s go back to the questions raised in this section:  How is your relationship with Christ?  Are you getting to know Him better?  What are you doing that will enable you to know Him better?

Do you desire to know His will for each day? What action do you take to discover His will?

Are you willing to obey when He shows you something specific you need to act on?  What is a recent example of this?

Ask Him to show you anything standing in the way of centering your life on Him and His plan for your life.

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask!

Luke 11:13

We know from God’s Word that every believer has received the Holy Spirit to live in us at the moment we were saved.  Why should we have to ask for more of the Holy Spirit?  Do we only get a little of the Spirit at a time?  No, I believe that “how much more” means that there is more of God that He wants us to be aware of and experience — His love, His constant presence, His wisdom, His direction, His promises. He wants us to know what He has done for us, the hope we have even in the midst of the most difficult and troubling circumstances, and the promise of eternal life with Him.

A few years ago, our pastor chose “Desperate Dependence” as the theme of the year for our church.  It has been life-changing for me to learn to live that way. The more we get to know God through studying His Word, we will become more aware of His love for us, the plan He has for our life, His desire for us to become more like Jesus. The more we surrender our lives to follow Him, the more we will recognize our need to depend on Him for everything we need.  That’s why He invites us to ask Him for more of His Holy Spirit.

As I write this, we have just recently celebrated the Christmas season.  I think of how much delight I received in finding the perfect gift for my daughter, something she had seen in a store and wasn’t able to buy it for herself.  When she opened it, we were equally delighted! Now I think of God who knows us better than we know ourselves.  He knows the abundant life He wants us to enjoy the more we surrender our lives to Him.  Through the Holy Spirit living in us, we receive His gifts, the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22). We will grow more deeply in love with the Lord, and grow in our love for others and willingness to serve them with the gifts He has given us.

We can ask the Father for more of the Holy Spirit and be assured that is a prayer He is delighted to answer! I’m encouraged to ask Him daily!

Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:16-19 encourages us with these words:

That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God (my emphasis added).

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Do you recognize your need for more awareness of the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life? You can ask Him, and then begin intentionally depending on Him each day to supply what you need to accomplish His plan.

Are you experiencing the abundant life God offers?  John 10:10 tells us “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

How will you respond to God’s offer of more of the Holy Spirit in your life?

Not my will, but yours be done.

Luke 22:42

After my morning quiet time alone with the Lord recently, I asked my husband what he had been doing in his office.  He said, “I’m updating my operating system.”  At that moment, I realized, “That’s what I’ve been doing too!” He was referring to his computer, but I was referring to God as my “heart system manager.” 

My time with God each morning is setting my focus on Him in worship, listening to Him through His Word and prayer, and committing to do what He has planned.  I ask Him to align my heart and mind with His.

            Believe me, it hasn’t always been this way!  For so much of my life, I was under the influence of legalistic teaching.  “Don’t go to movies, don’t go to dances, don’t wear skirts above the knees or wear two-piece bathing suits…”  It was all centered on outward behavior, following all the rules to please God.  I would have early morning “quiet times” (the earlier the better for “good Christians”). So often I would fall asleep during those times, but at least I could check it off my list along with reading a chapter or two of the Bible!

            Thankfully, God has shown me instead that He is my Shepherd who knows me by name, loves me, has a plan for my life. He has invited me (and you!) into a loving relationship, not a legalistic list of duties to perform.  Jesus came so that we could know God, and was willing to give up His own life to pay the penalty for the sins of the world.  We can have the assurance of salvation and eternal life with Him.  We can have peace no matter what is going on in the world and in our personal life if we receive His offer of forgiveness and turn our lives over to Him as Lord and Savior.  We can trust Him to orchestrate our activities and choices throughout the day if we have surrendered our own will and plans to Him.

            As we begin a New Year, may we make our relationship with God and time spent with Him a priority.  He will work out all things according to His plan as we walk with Him by faith.

            I just remembered a poem I wrote more than 20 years ago.  It came to me after a time of struggling in my relationship with the Lord.  I pray it will encourage you.

            Be Still

I encourage you to spend time with the Lord a priority for an “update of your operating system.”

What is He showing you that needs to change?  Maybe rearranging priorities? Maybe an attitude adjustment?  Trust that He is there to walk through it with you.

Maybe you’d like to write out a prayer of renewed commitment, not just for the New Year, but for your daily life.