GOD IS ABLE TO DO WHATEVER HE PROMISES

Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping - - believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have.” And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years old, he figured his body was as good as dead - - and so was Sarah’s womb. 

Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 

Romans 4: 18-22

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Ephesians 3:20

THERE IS VICTORY IN JESUS

Real HELP comes from God.(The Message)

From the LORD comes DELIVERANCE. (NIV)

VICTORY comes from you, O Lord. (NLT)

SALVATION belongs to the Lord. (NKJV)

Psalms 3:8 (emphasis added)


Help. Deliverance. Victory. Salvation. 
One short verse. 
Different translations. 
Same promise. 
Amen. 

IN A WORLD GONE WILD, GOD IS STILL SOVEREIGN

I get frustrated when I read or hear disparaging things said about God in the popular media. My frustration comes from reading or hearing things said by people who have no idea who God is; by people who declare themselves atheist or agnostic, or intellectual, and some who even call themselves Christian, but who wear their Christianity like an accessory to be taken off when it doesn’t suit the occasion. 

There is an old saying that’s appropriate: “You never really know a person until you are married to them.” This statement holds a lot of truth. Until you are in a committed relationship with someone - -  married to them - -  spend time with them, learn their ways, see their hearts in action, experience good times and bad times with them, you never really know that person. 

And then it might be said that you can never really know all there is to know about another person, even when you are married to them. 

So it is with God. We will never know everything there is to know about God, until He returns and reveals Himself to us. However, the more time we spend with God, the more we learn about Him, the more our relationship with Him deepens. Like folks who have been married for a while, as we spend more time with God we grow to be more like Him. We learn His tender ways, we speak softer, we grow in wisdom and understanding, we learn the benefit of forgiveness and we gain peace.

So, my question is, how can an atheist be sure that God doesn’t exist if He doesn’t know God, and if he has never spent any time with Him? 

Many adults who call themselves atheist, even agnostic, grew up in church. As children, they had religion preached at them by Christians who practiced hypocrisy and deceitfulness. (It happens.) Some people are understandably intolerant of Christianity because their trust was broken by someone in church leadership. (Despicable, but true.) Still others never recovered from the free living of their college days, when they could do and say whatever they pleased, away from the restrictions of parental authority and the judgment of good Christian mentors.(Free will doesn't always lead to freedom.)

Some non-believing adults are simply jaded by all of the bad things that have happened to them in their life, or bad things that have happened to people they love. 

It’s hard enough for a Christian to have faith in a world torn apart by hate. Life without faith seems an unnecessary hardship to endure.

Chapter 12 of the Book of Job reminds us that in a world gone wild God is still sovereign: 

My friends laugh at me, for I call on God and expect an answer (v.4). They are confounded by my faith. It seems contradictory to them that a person could be sane and believe in God at the same time. They talk badly about God and they seem to get away with it. They prosper in their disbelief and sinful living. They are absolutely convinced that everything good they have ever achieved in their lives has been by their own wit and will. Yet, any suffering they've experienced they readily attribute to God’s lack of power or non-existence. They forget that God keeps them in his power (v.6). Sometimes I forget too. I see unfairness and disparity around me and I can’t make sense of it. Why do greedy people always win while poor people lose out? Why do some people take more than they need while others never have enough? The life of every living thing is in his hand. So is the breath of every human being (v.10). Why is it that people who hate always get so much attention? Their words get amplified around the world, while anyone who has anything nice to say gets ridiculed and put down? Deceivers and deceived are both in his power (v.16). Am I crazy for believing in God? Is it worth the energy to swim against the current of popularity? Is this lunacy how we are meant to live? Is this madness all there is to look forward to in life? He uncovers mysteries hidden in darkness; he brings light to the deepest gloom (v.22). When will justice be granted to those who have suffered in faith? Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old. But true wisdom and power are found in God; counsel and understanding are his (v.13). (Bible quotes from NLT)

LOVE GOD. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.

Luke 10:27

But what if my neighbor is impossible to love? What if my spouse behaves badly? What if my parents messed up my life? What if my child lives a dark life of rebellion? What if my boss continually undermines my best effort?

God’s commandment to love is about obedience, not feeling. As Christians, we are called to: (a) love God, and (b) love our neighbor.

It is important to get the sequence right: Love God first. Love our neighbor second. We don't love God through our neighbor. We love our neighbor through God. We can appreciate the Divine wisdom of this commandment when we encounter a difficult neighbor. 

So, who is our neighbor? Is it the Joneses who live across the street in my upper middle class neighborhood? Or it is that drugged-up homeless guy who begs for money at the stoplight downtown?

If God wanted us to love only those people who are nice to us, or only those people who are easy to love, or only those people who appeal to us or agree with us, or only those people who look like us and have our same values, or only those people who go to our church, or only those people who prove they love us more than we love them, He would have been explicit in saying so. From everything I’ve read, God didn’t struggle with finding the right words for any occasion. 

How should we love God? With everything. With all of our being: heart, soul, strength and mind. Hold nothing in reserve. 

How do we love our neighbor? We love our neighbor as well as we love ourselves (The Message). To be clear, this is not a subjective standard. We love God, not ourselves, first. We love our neighbor through God. We love our neighbor with the full objective measure of God's love. When we love God first, we can't help but love all of humankind in full obedience of God's commandment.   

God's commandment is clear:

1. Love God.

2. Love your neighbor.

Nothing more is required. Nothing less is acceptable.

GOD'S WONDERFUL WORK

I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Psalm 139:14

A SPECIAL PRAYER FOR OUR MILITARY

Father, we live in trying times, but we take comfort in knowing that You are with us.

I pray a special prayer for all military families who face uncertainty about their remuneration as a result of the ongoing federal budget dispute. 

Father, even as we face this uncertainty, we are grateful that You have provided military families with much more financial security than other (civilian) families have had during this time of protracted economic hardship. Give us patience and teach us how to support each other and how to worship You even through the current uncertainty and disruption. 

I pray a special prayer for my husband, who has the difficult job of sharing news of a potential shut down with thousands of government employees, including great American men and women from all of the services. Let him be a Christ-filled and compassionate leader. Give him wisdom and words that share encouragement and gratitude during these challenging times.

Father, we ask that You humble the hearts of our elected leaders, and that You be a powerful presence in their midst, as they negotiate a solution that serves You and the greater good of this nation. In Jesus Name. Amen.

STOP. LOOK. AND LISTEN.

If you want to know what God is saying to you: stop, look and listen.

I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me.

Habakkuk 2:1

Waiting on God is not an easy assignment. It is certainly not a job for lazy or apathetic people.

Waiting on God is like guarding a watch post. We cannot fall asleep and we cannot become distracted. We must wait with full expectation that something will happen, and when it does, we must be ready. We must stand at attention and look out and listen with our eyes open and our ears attuned at all times. 

I will stand [STOP] at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see [LOOK] what he will say [LISTEN] to me.

We must stop, look and listen for God’s clear instruction. 

Like musicians in an orchestra who wait with their attention fixed on the conductor, we must keep our eyes fixed on the Great Conductor and wait for His signal: “I will look to see what he will say to me.” 

To hear God’s voice, we must wait attentively. We must actively look and listen. 

God speaks to us when we listen for His voice. When we stand in place and wait with expectation, we hear what He has to say.

From the beginning of time, God has given us His undivided attention. For the next five minutes, can you give Him yours?

Father, I stand before You, eagerly waiting to hear Your voice. Please show me Your will for my life, so that I may walk in Your path and know Your ways. Keep my eyes focused on You, so that I may see and hear what you have to say to me at all times. Defend my heart from distractions and ambush. Teach me to wait on You, Lord. Teach me to trust in You for all things. Before I make any decision, remind me to turn to You, and to stop and look and listen for Your clear instruction.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

A BROKEN HEART PRAYS A BROKEN PRAYER

Truth lives in our hearts, whether it’s good truth or bad truth.

Therefore confess your sins to one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.

James 5:16

Sin locked away in our hearts is like a disease.

We are told to confess our sins to one another. When we do, our hearts and bodies and minds are cleansed by God's grace. By God's mercy, we are healed. By His forgiveness, we are made righteous. By God's continual loving kindness we experience the true power and effectiveness of prayer.

“My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.”  - - John Newton, author of one of the most beloved hymns of all time, Amazing Grace.

TAKE SIN SERIOUSLY

All sin is not equal, but the chance that we will all sin is equal.

So if you think that you are standing, watch out that you do not fall.

1 Corinthians 10:12

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Proverbs 4:23

DAMNING DOUBT - - FINDING FAITH

Recently, I have struggled with doubt. I know that I am not alone in my struggle; that everyone faces doubt at some time. Doubt, after all, is the limitation of our human nature; it is the characteristic weakness of our human mind.

What should I do about my doubt? How can I better cope with my doubt? 

While doubt can serve a wonderful purpose in helping us grow in our faith and as intellectual beings, it can also stunt our growth. 

The following quote is an excerpt from a Bible study compilation, Streams in the Desert, by LB Cowman (edited and updated by Jim Reimann (Zondervan)), that provides a guide to facing doubt from a Biblical perspective:

“You should get into the habit of looking for the silver lining of storm clouds. And once you have found it, continue to focus on it, rather than the dark grey of the center. Do not yield to discouragement no matter how severely stressed or surrounded by problems you may be. A discouraged soul is in a helpless state, being neither able to stand against the devil’s schemes (Ephesians 6:11) himself nor able to prevail in prayer for others. Flee every symptom of the deadly foe of discouragement as you would run from a snake. Never be slow to turn your back on it, unless you desire to eat the dust of defeat.

Search for specific promises of God, saying aloud of each one, “This promise is MINE.” Then if you still experience feelings of doubt and discouragement, pour your heart out to God, asking Him to rebuke the Adversary who is so mercilessly harassing you.

The very instant you wholeheartedly turn away from every symptom of discouragement and lack of trust, the blessed Holy Spirit will reawaken your faith and breathe God’s divine strength into your soul. Initially you may be unaware that this is happening, but as you determine to uncompromisingly shun every attack of even the tendency toward doubt and depression, you will quickly see the powers of darkness being turned back.

Oh, if only our eyes could see the mighty armies of strength and power that are always behind our turning away from the hosts of darkness toward God, there would be no attention given to the efforts of our cunning Foe to distress, depress or discourage us! All the miraculous attributes of the Godhead are marshaled on the side of even the weakest believer who, in the name of Christ and in simple, childlike trust, yields himself to God and turns to Him for help and guidance.”

So, how do we overcome doubt? 

Here are ten things to remember:

1. Make it a habit to look for the silver lining in any problem or doubt. So much of our human behavior is habitual. We overcome a bad habit with a new, good habit.

2. Focus on what is good and positive. Again, a new, healthy habit replaces an old, unhealthy one.

3. Focus on the big picture (and leave the details to God). Our problems are small when placed in proper perspective. Everything is small when compared to eternity.

4. Focus on being useful. As Christians, we are not on this earth to serve ourselves or our own interests, but to serve others: whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant...For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Mark 10:43,45) Yet, how can we help others if we don’t help ourselves first? It is by helping others that we help ourselves. So, conquering doubt is not about fixing something, it’s about DOING something.

5. We physically turn our back on doubt. We run from doubt, from it’s poisonous bite. We SHUN doubt. We don’t just ignore doubt, we KEEP AWAY FROM doubt.

6. Doubt is a space filler, not a show piece. That means that doubt can only occupy the spaces in our hearts and minds that are not already occupied with something else. We must fill up the empty spaces of our mind with God’s promises and lay up His Word in our heart: you shall put these words of mine in your heart and soul (Deuteronomy 11: 18-20). 

7. Pray. Petition God for help. A good place to start is in the Book of Psalms. David teaches us how to bare our hearts to God, how to call on God in our time of struggle, how to praise Him, even in our darkest hour. The following list is not exhaustive:

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:9-10

The promises of the LORD are promises that are pure, silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. Psalm 12:6

O LORD my God, in you I take refuge... Psalm 7:1

Make your way straight before me. Psalm 5:8

I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I keep the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Psalm 16:7-8

In your presence there is fullness of joy... Psalm 16:11

I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me, hear my words. Wondrously show your steadfast love, O savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand. Psalm 17: 6-7

This God - - his way is perfect; the promise of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all who take refuge in him. Psalm 18:30

Make me to know your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths. Psalm 25:4

Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. Psalm 25:18

The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts. Psalm 28:7

Sing praises to the LORD, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:4-5

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. Psalm 23:1

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you. Psalm 73:25

8. If you don’t know how to pray, or if you are not yet a Christian, or if you are a Christian who feels defeated or disconnected, read through the Psalms aloud and let that be your prayer for now. 

9. Remember that doubt is nothing more than a manifestation of fear. Some fear in our lives serves a useful purpose, but fear unchecked, leaves us feeling depleted and defeated. So, let us offer encouragement to one another in our faith: Therefore encourage one another and build up each other...(1 Thessalonians 5:11) The God we pray to is not a myth or an abstract feature of the universe; He is the one true living God. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.(Psalm 90:2)(also, Psalm 115; Exodus 20:3)

10: Leave it to God. Once we have acknowledged our deficiency, petitioned God for help, thanked Him and praised Him for His Promises, we must finally trust Him to carry our burden. This can be the challenging part of dealing with doubt. We sometimes demand and expect that our doubt should be replaced with certainty, when really the only cure for doubt is faith.