Question: Do you fear God?
There are two basic definitions of the word fear:
First definition:
a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid. Synonyms: foreboding, apprehension, consternation, dismay, dread, terror, fright, panic, horror, trepidation, qualm.
Second definition:
reverential awe, especially toward God: the fear of God. Synonyms: awe, respect, reverence, veneration.
It's funny--I couldn't help but notice that the first definition is so much longer than the second one. And what words! Trepidation, horror, panic! Most of the time, I'm bound to the first definition of fear. Panic attacks run in my family, so for no reason at all, I can all of a sudden be gripped by an intense, all-consuming fear--and most of the time, that fear really has no basis at all. Fear is a crazy thing. And did you notice the part of the definition that says, "whether the threat is real or imagined" (emphasis mine)? We can be panicked out of our mind over essentially nothing!
But look with me at the second definition of fear. It's so short. And there are basically only four words that describe it: awe, reverence, respect, veneration. So when asked, "Do you fear God?", these are the words that should come to mind.
Have you ever noticed that when you are caught up in the presence of the Lord, whether immersing yourself in His Word, worshipping with abandon, or listening for His voice in prayer, you just feel a sense of ... awe. And often the word awe is paired with the word wonder. You feel as if you have looked into the face of God, and you think, "Wow ...." Yes, complete speechlessness is a common symptom. It's like, "Ah! God! You're amazing!" And in that moment, nothing in the world can penetrate the walls of the tabernacle you have created to worship God.
It's a shame we have abused the word "awesome." We go around all the time saying, "Oh my gosh, that's awesome!" It's our immediate go-to word. But when we look at it closely, the word "awe" is in there. Awesome literally means "inspiring awe." It is an overwhelming feeling of reverence! I cannot think of anything that deserves the feeling of awe like our great God.
The two definitions of fear are inversely proportional to one another. When you are gripped with the anxious kind of fear, you fear God less--or rather, you forget who He is and lose confidence in His character. When you fear the Lord, however, the other kind of fear dissolves. Perfect love casts out fear, as John says in 1 John 4:18. And guess how John defines love? "God is love." I John 4:8 When we become lost in the character of God, when we recognize His greatness, how faithful He is to us, how He delivers us out of every tribulation, we are caught up in the fear of God. And we lose the other kind of fear completely.
I was reading in Daniel this morning, chapter 3. You all know the story. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego refuse to bow down to the giant idol that Nebuchadnezzar sets up in his backyard. Why? Because they feared the Lord God. And you remember what happens when they get thrown in the furnace. A fourth person walks with them in the midst of the fire, causing Nebuchadnezzar to proclaim, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him ..." Daniel 3:28, emphasis mine.
Some of you may know that when Angel is capitalized, it usually refers to Jesus Christ Himself. I happened to be reading in my brother's super cool study Bible, and I looked up the cross-references in the margin for the word "Angel" mentioned in that verse. The first one it gave me was Psalm 34:7-8, which states, "The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them." Ok, that's pretty amazing, I thought. I couldn't help but notice that the word "encamps" was also a word for cross-reference; it took me to 2 Kings 6:17.
Let me set up the context of this verse. So, the king of Syria was planning an attack on Israel, but there was a spy, a "man of God," who kept reporting where the king of Syria would set up camp. Funny thing is, the spy never had to leave his own location. He was a prophet. Yep, that spy was none other than Elisha, and as one of the king's servants described him, "Elisha ... tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom." So the king panicked and sent out a massive army to find Elisha so he could stop him for good. So his army "came by night and surrounded the city." (verse 14).
Well, Elisha's servant woke up early in the morning to find a crazy huge army camped right outside the city: horses, chariots, the whole enchilada. So he runs to Elisha and freaks out, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" (verse 15). I think I'd do the same thing. But Elisha speaks very calmly to his servant in the next verse and basically says, Eh, I wouldn't worry about it. There's more of us than there are of them. Um, excuse me, Elisha? What's that supposed to mean? How do we possibly outnumber them?!
Here's the kicker: verse 17.
"And Elisha prayed, and said, 'Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.' Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."
Bam! Ah! That is so cool! I don't know about you, but I flipped out when I read this verse! It's ... it's ... awesome! That's because our God is awesome. Yes, "the angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him," and this is the picture that God gives to describe that. His angels watch over us all the time. And we have the greatest Angel of all to protect us: Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Yeah, we'll still freak out every once in a while. We're human. One human trait, I think, that we all share is forgetfulness--especially when it comes to things of God. We become fearful when we forget who God is and all He has done for us. That is why we need to constantly remain in His presence, praying, spending time in His Word, saying once in a while, "God, thank You for who You are. I love you." When we fear the Lord, and behold Him with awe and wonder, He "drives the dark of doubt away," of fear, of anxiety. The fear of God is a beautiful thing.
Do you fear God?
5.01.2012
4.19.2012
If I'm a Christian, Then Why Do I Keep Falling into Sin?
"My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs on my head; therefore, my heart fails me." ~ Psalm 40:12
I'm a perfectionist. So whenever something goes wrong, or not according to plan, or I make a mistake, I become easily distraught. This is especially the case with sin.
Because I'm a Christian, I automatically think that, since I am striving to attain the righteousness of God, I am supposed to be perfect. Of course, I still sin, but not anything too extreme -- it's not like I'm a "transgressor" (*gasp of shock*) or anything.
And yet, like a dog returning to its vomit, I find myself committing the same sin. Again. And again. And again ...
Waking up this morning afflicted with terrible thoughts, realizing that I was falling into the same sin that I have struggled with for a long time (and just when I thought I was making real progress), I fell into despair. When I read Psalm 40:12 in my devotions, I was able to relate to every word. I felt like a hopeless failure, not able to lift her head up, much less look at the face of God. I thought to myself, "How long am I going to make this same mistake? Aren't I supposed to grow as a Christian and overcome these sins? I must not be a very good Christian!"
But, like the faithful Father He is, God spoke these words very clearly to me:
Noelle, being a "good Christian," as you call it, does not pertain the amount of times you sin. Being a Christian is growing more confident in the realization that when you sin, my grace will cover it. Being a Christian is believing in the power of my blood. Being a Christian is drawing upon my grace and mercy each time you stumble. Being a strong Christian is remembering that through my death on the cross, I have taken away the penalty for your sin. This does not mean, my child, that you will not sin. You are made from the dust of the earth. Yet you are filled with my breath, crafted by my hands, and I have redeemed your life from the pit of Sheol.
My love, if you do not believe that my sacrifice has cleansed you from the consequences of sin, though you still stumble, if you do not believe that my grace is sufficient for you, then my death may as well be in vain.
Take heart, dear reader. For those who fall into sin hear God's gospel the loudest and clearest.
When I go about my life without qualm or shortcoming, how easily I can fall into the mindset that I am acheiving righteousness all on my own! When I fall down, I quickly become angry that I let myself trip in the mud again when I was supposed to be so perfect! But when I lie there on the ground, the dirt of sin all over my face, my dear Jesus walks over to my side, lifts me up off the ground, lets his cleansing tears fall onto my face, and says to me tenderly, "My beloved, I alone can cleanse you from your sin." And then He embraces me with His grace, the dirt rubbing onto His own robe.
When you sin today (and yes, you will sin), embrace the gospel message in its entirety. Sometimes as Christians, we forget that the gospel still pertains to us, too. It fuels the very life we live! To forsake the gospel message and its healing power is to forsake Christ.
Remember, fellow sister or brother in Christ, that "it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8), and "the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). Walk in the light that He is willing to forgive us every time we sin. That's what His sarcrifice was for.
And dance in His never-ending grace.
"... As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."
Psalm 103:12
"But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more."
Romans 5:20
I'm a perfectionist. So whenever something goes wrong, or not according to plan, or I make a mistake, I become easily distraught. This is especially the case with sin.
Because I'm a Christian, I automatically think that, since I am striving to attain the righteousness of God, I am supposed to be perfect. Of course, I still sin, but not anything too extreme -- it's not like I'm a "transgressor" (*gasp of shock*) or anything.
And yet, like a dog returning to its vomit, I find myself committing the same sin. Again. And again. And again ...
Waking up this morning afflicted with terrible thoughts, realizing that I was falling into the same sin that I have struggled with for a long time (and just when I thought I was making real progress), I fell into despair. When I read Psalm 40:12 in my devotions, I was able to relate to every word. I felt like a hopeless failure, not able to lift her head up, much less look at the face of God. I thought to myself, "How long am I going to make this same mistake? Aren't I supposed to grow as a Christian and overcome these sins? I must not be a very good Christian!"
But, like the faithful Father He is, God spoke these words very clearly to me:
Noelle, being a "good Christian," as you call it, does not pertain the amount of times you sin. Being a Christian is growing more confident in the realization that when you sin, my grace will cover it. Being a Christian is believing in the power of my blood. Being a Christian is drawing upon my grace and mercy each time you stumble. Being a strong Christian is remembering that through my death on the cross, I have taken away the penalty for your sin. This does not mean, my child, that you will not sin. You are made from the dust of the earth. Yet you are filled with my breath, crafted by my hands, and I have redeemed your life from the pit of Sheol.
My love, if you do not believe that my sacrifice has cleansed you from the consequences of sin, though you still stumble, if you do not believe that my grace is sufficient for you, then my death may as well be in vain.
Take heart, dear reader. For those who fall into sin hear God's gospel the loudest and clearest.
When I go about my life without qualm or shortcoming, how easily I can fall into the mindset that I am acheiving righteousness all on my own! When I fall down, I quickly become angry that I let myself trip in the mud again when I was supposed to be so perfect! But when I lie there on the ground, the dirt of sin all over my face, my dear Jesus walks over to my side, lifts me up off the ground, lets his cleansing tears fall onto my face, and says to me tenderly, "My beloved, I alone can cleanse you from your sin." And then He embraces me with His grace, the dirt rubbing onto His own robe.
When you sin today (and yes, you will sin), embrace the gospel message in its entirety. Sometimes as Christians, we forget that the gospel still pertains to us, too. It fuels the very life we live! To forsake the gospel message and its healing power is to forsake Christ.
Remember, fellow sister or brother in Christ, that "it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8), and "the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). Walk in the light that He is willing to forgive us every time we sin. That's what His sarcrifice was for.
And dance in His never-ending grace.
"... As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."
Psalm 103:12
"But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more."
Romans 5:20
3.07.2012
When Trials Come ...
Sigh. I love trials, don't you?
Ok, I pretty much sounded like someone whose brain has a screw loose. I mean, who in their right mind likes trials? And truth be told, while we're actually in the trials, we certainly do not.
But looking back at them, oh, how marvelous they are.
Trials and difficult times are not fun. They are certainly not something we all pine for. I think it would be pretty shocking for a Christian to pray, "And Lord, that you would bless me with a hardship, a trial, something that rocks me to my core and brings me to my knees weeping. Thank You!" Yeah. Right. I don't think that would be me.
But I am reminded of a song by MercyMe, in which the lyrics say,
Bring me joy, bring me peace / Bring the chance to be free /
Bring me anything that brings You glory /
And I know there'll be days when this life brings me pain /
But if that's what it takes to praise you /
Jesus bring the rain ...
Oh, what faith! What devotion to God! Would it not bless God's heart for all of us Christians to pray, "God, I don't care what it takes for me to fall on my knees bringing praise and glory to Your Name. Send joy, send peace, but if it be Your will, oh God, send the rain."
It is so true, though, that the result of trials is utmost praise to the Father. After passing through the flames, we look at ourselves and realize that we have been refined -- we shimmer like gold. We become closer to the Father. And we praise Him for it! My dear saints, trials are not pleasurable. At times, they can be downright devastating. But I pray that you will have the strength to endure and the faith to know that something incredibly beautiful will come out of it.
And take heart! For those Christians that go through trials are the ones whom God is using! Like Jesus says in John 15:2, "... every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit." So not only are trials a sign that you are bearing fruit already, but they are a promise that you will bear even more fruit than before!
I think of a young man who somewhat illustrates this point. He was a basketball player on my brother's team in high school, way back when. He was a pretty solid player. He was a decent shooter, but he owned at defense. That was his strength. Overall, the coaches valued his playing, and he was greatly admired by teammates and peers.
When all of a sudden, the worst happened -- and injury to his leg left him completely incapacitated and unable to play ball. For a long time.
I am sure he cried out to God in agony, wondering why he would be left out an entire season due to such an injury. He loved the game so much! And it was because of this passion that he started doing something amazing. He would sit down on the floor of the gym (not in a chair--on the floor)and shoot hoops. With pure arm stength. All day long.
Day by day, the muscles in his arms toughened, he became stronger overall, and his shooting accuracy rose even higher. So by the time he healed up and came back to play, he was unstoppable. He had become the ultimate player. Not only did he still maintain his incredible defense skills, but he had the shooting ability as well -- better than anyone on his team.
It is truly amazing how God can use something like that injury in our lives and make us so much better than we were before. If the young man had not been unable to use his legs and play ball, he would not have sat on the gym floor all those hours shooting hoops, increasing his strength. But because of that, he came back better than ever before and became the star player of his team!
My brothers and sisters, "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience, but let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." (James 1:2-4, italics mine) Ride out the storm. Let God do His work. Let Him shatter the clay so He can build it into something bigger and better. Then you will be perfect and complete, lacking NOTHING. What an amazing promise!
And don't be ashamed if you feel weak, frustrated, or depressed during such a time. We are still flesh. God is still our Great High Priest who sympathizes with our every weakness (Hebrews 4:15). He knows trials are hard! All He wants us to do is to have faith in Him, to not forsake Him, nor forget His love for us.
Believe. There may be pain in the night, but joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)
"I will bring [them] through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My Name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'This is My people'; and each one will say, 'The Lord is my God."
Zechariah 13:9
Ok, I pretty much sounded like someone whose brain has a screw loose. I mean, who in their right mind likes trials? And truth be told, while we're actually in the trials, we certainly do not.
But looking back at them, oh, how marvelous they are.
Trials and difficult times are not fun. They are certainly not something we all pine for. I think it would be pretty shocking for a Christian to pray, "And Lord, that you would bless me with a hardship, a trial, something that rocks me to my core and brings me to my knees weeping. Thank You!" Yeah. Right. I don't think that would be me.
But I am reminded of a song by MercyMe, in which the lyrics say,
Bring me joy, bring me peace / Bring the chance to be free /
Bring me anything that brings You glory /
And I know there'll be days when this life brings me pain /
But if that's what it takes to praise you /
Jesus bring the rain ...
Oh, what faith! What devotion to God! Would it not bless God's heart for all of us Christians to pray, "God, I don't care what it takes for me to fall on my knees bringing praise and glory to Your Name. Send joy, send peace, but if it be Your will, oh God, send the rain."
It is so true, though, that the result of trials is utmost praise to the Father. After passing through the flames, we look at ourselves and realize that we have been refined -- we shimmer like gold. We become closer to the Father. And we praise Him for it! My dear saints, trials are not pleasurable. At times, they can be downright devastating. But I pray that you will have the strength to endure and the faith to know that something incredibly beautiful will come out of it.
And take heart! For those Christians that go through trials are the ones whom God is using! Like Jesus says in John 15:2, "... every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit." So not only are trials a sign that you are bearing fruit already, but they are a promise that you will bear even more fruit than before!
I think of a young man who somewhat illustrates this point. He was a basketball player on my brother's team in high school, way back when. He was a pretty solid player. He was a decent shooter, but he owned at defense. That was his strength. Overall, the coaches valued his playing, and he was greatly admired by teammates and peers.
When all of a sudden, the worst happened -- and injury to his leg left him completely incapacitated and unable to play ball. For a long time.
I am sure he cried out to God in agony, wondering why he would be left out an entire season due to such an injury. He loved the game so much! And it was because of this passion that he started doing something amazing. He would sit down on the floor of the gym (not in a chair--on the floor)and shoot hoops. With pure arm stength. All day long.
Day by day, the muscles in his arms toughened, he became stronger overall, and his shooting accuracy rose even higher. So by the time he healed up and came back to play, he was unstoppable. He had become the ultimate player. Not only did he still maintain his incredible defense skills, but he had the shooting ability as well -- better than anyone on his team.
It is truly amazing how God can use something like that injury in our lives and make us so much better than we were before. If the young man had not been unable to use his legs and play ball, he would not have sat on the gym floor all those hours shooting hoops, increasing his strength. But because of that, he came back better than ever before and became the star player of his team!
My brothers and sisters, "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience, but let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." (James 1:2-4, italics mine) Ride out the storm. Let God do His work. Let Him shatter the clay so He can build it into something bigger and better. Then you will be perfect and complete, lacking NOTHING. What an amazing promise!
And don't be ashamed if you feel weak, frustrated, or depressed during such a time. We are still flesh. God is still our Great High Priest who sympathizes with our every weakness (Hebrews 4:15). He knows trials are hard! All He wants us to do is to have faith in Him, to not forsake Him, nor forget His love for us.
Believe. There may be pain in the night, but joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)
"I will bring [them] through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My Name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'This is My people'; and each one will say, 'The Lord is my God."
Zechariah 13:9
2.25.2012
When Satan Tempts Me to Despair ...
This semester was going to be the best I had ever known. I was super excited to meet up with friends I had not seen during the long intercession, I was plugged back into my amazing Bible study on campus, and I was once again reunited with my beloved sorority sisters. But most of all, God was shining back into my life after a long period of darkness and drought. I was beginning to see Him again, for who He really was. And I finally understood something: I am here to give Him glory.
Even Valentine's Day passed beautifully. Normally the day brings much sadness for me, but this year, I was completely enamored with my God and incredibly joyful for all the things He has done in my life. And day by day, I spoke unto Him this simple prayer, "Jesus, I count everything as loss if only I can know you and serve You more. All glory be unto Your Name. Increase so I can decrease."
And no sooner did I pray this prayer when the storm hit. Hard.
The devil knows how to get to me. When he wants to attack me, he goes to one place: my mind. So for two consecutive weeks, he made my mind a battleground. And it took all my strength within me just to survive. He whispered lies and thoughts in my head all the time, almost every minute of the day:
Why is this God of yours so deserving of glory? Isn't He such a glory-hog?
So why haven't you done anything for Him lately, huh? You said you loved Him. Why aren't you showing it?
How could God use someone like you. Look at you: a miserable failure. You've messed up too many times.
You know the one reason why you don't have a boyfriend? Because you don't deserve one. You're not pure enough. Nor are you good enough, or ever will be.
God's not on your side. Look at all the things He's withheld from you. Look at your friends around you, having so much fun, doing so many things. Don't you want to be like them?
God is not real. You made Him up. Nor is the Bible real. Why do you believe this stuff?
I could go on. But these thoughts have been plaguing me for a considerable amount of time now. My first reaction was, "God, I prayed to You, asking You to empty me of myself so I can bring glory to Your Name! So why is it now that I can't even worship anymore? All the gifts you recently revealed in me--why can't I use them? It takes me all the energy I have just to hold on. What's happening, Lord? Where are You?"
Then it hit me in the face. God was not inflicting this pain upon me.
I was being attacked by Satan himself.
Why? Because he is deathly afraid of any Christian opening their lives to give complete glory to God. The number one thing Satan hates is when Christians bring glory to God's Name. Because the devil wants all the glory for himself.
So whenever you find yourself in a place where you cannot lift your hands in worship, where you cannot find a reason to glorify your Savior, when you cannot understand why He must be exalted, don't let the enemy win. Even if you do not seem to have the strength, worship God anyway. Because He is still worthy. Because the enemy is a fool and a fraud. Because if we do not praise God's name, the rocks will. (Luke 19:40)
All Christians know the adage, "I'm standing on the promises of God," but to be honest, I did not really grasp the gravity of this phrase until this trial. And I have been a Christian for some time now! But it is these promises that bring us back to the Savior when we do not want to give Him the praise He deserves. Promises like,
"But those who wait on the Lord will renew their stength ..." Isaiah 40:31
"You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." Isaiah 26:3
"For I know the thoughts I think that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and hope ... And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11,13
"But those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing." Psalm 34:10
"I will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6
"All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
"See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands." Isaiah 49:15-16
I could type up so many more promises that God has given to us. There are just too many. But this is our God! This is why He is deserving of praise. He is a Father, He is love, He has saved us from a dreadful fate! He has given His very life for us! Satan knows that God is worthy of all glory - he once lived in heaven, remember? And the glory that dwells with God Almighty is so great that Satan wanted it all for himself. So he would do anything -- anything -- to keep us from praising and worshipping our God.
So when your heart's not into it, when you are struggling with trials and tribulations, just trying to make it through each and every day, remember to stand on the promises of God. Remember all that He is, how much He has brought you through, When the enemy has got you down, when he tempts you to despair, recognize that he is tempting you. "Lest Satan should take advantage of us; we are not ignorant of his devices." 2 Corinthians 2:11
And in the end, read Isaiah 14:12-21. It makes me laugh every time. You'll see why.
Hang in there all of you who may be struggling in spiritual warfare. And remember this most encouraging truth: the enemy only attacks those whom he is genuinely afraid of. He doesn't bother with the lost souls of the world - they're already his. But those who pose a legitimate threat to his reign he does his best to dispose of. So count it all joy when you go through trials! It means that God is still for you, and that you are still for God. Rest assured, He will do incredible things to those who give their heart entirely to Him. In the end, it is all about God's glory. Between God and Satan, there is no contest. Trust in the Lord's strength.
Because with God's strength and power, Satan gets his butt whooped every time.
Even Valentine's Day passed beautifully. Normally the day brings much sadness for me, but this year, I was completely enamored with my God and incredibly joyful for all the things He has done in my life. And day by day, I spoke unto Him this simple prayer, "Jesus, I count everything as loss if only I can know you and serve You more. All glory be unto Your Name. Increase so I can decrease."
And no sooner did I pray this prayer when the storm hit. Hard.
The devil knows how to get to me. When he wants to attack me, he goes to one place: my mind. So for two consecutive weeks, he made my mind a battleground. And it took all my strength within me just to survive. He whispered lies and thoughts in my head all the time, almost every minute of the day:
Why is this God of yours so deserving of glory? Isn't He such a glory-hog?
So why haven't you done anything for Him lately, huh? You said you loved Him. Why aren't you showing it?
How could God use someone like you. Look at you: a miserable failure. You've messed up too many times.
You know the one reason why you don't have a boyfriend? Because you don't deserve one. You're not pure enough. Nor are you good enough, or ever will be.
God's not on your side. Look at all the things He's withheld from you. Look at your friends around you, having so much fun, doing so many things. Don't you want to be like them?
God is not real. You made Him up. Nor is the Bible real. Why do you believe this stuff?
I could go on. But these thoughts have been plaguing me for a considerable amount of time now. My first reaction was, "God, I prayed to You, asking You to empty me of myself so I can bring glory to Your Name! So why is it now that I can't even worship anymore? All the gifts you recently revealed in me--why can't I use them? It takes me all the energy I have just to hold on. What's happening, Lord? Where are You?"
Then it hit me in the face. God was not inflicting this pain upon me.
I was being attacked by Satan himself.
Why? Because he is deathly afraid of any Christian opening their lives to give complete glory to God. The number one thing Satan hates is when Christians bring glory to God's Name. Because the devil wants all the glory for himself.
So whenever you find yourself in a place where you cannot lift your hands in worship, where you cannot find a reason to glorify your Savior, when you cannot understand why He must be exalted, don't let the enemy win. Even if you do not seem to have the strength, worship God anyway. Because He is still worthy. Because the enemy is a fool and a fraud. Because if we do not praise God's name, the rocks will. (Luke 19:40)
All Christians know the adage, "I'm standing on the promises of God," but to be honest, I did not really grasp the gravity of this phrase until this trial. And I have been a Christian for some time now! But it is these promises that bring us back to the Savior when we do not want to give Him the praise He deserves. Promises like,
"But those who wait on the Lord will renew their stength ..." Isaiah 40:31
"You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." Isaiah 26:3
"For I know the thoughts I think that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and hope ... And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11,13
"But those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing." Psalm 34:10
"I will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6
"All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
"See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands." Isaiah 49:15-16
I could type up so many more promises that God has given to us. There are just too many. But this is our God! This is why He is deserving of praise. He is a Father, He is love, He has saved us from a dreadful fate! He has given His very life for us! Satan knows that God is worthy of all glory - he once lived in heaven, remember? And the glory that dwells with God Almighty is so great that Satan wanted it all for himself. So he would do anything -- anything -- to keep us from praising and worshipping our God.
So when your heart's not into it, when you are struggling with trials and tribulations, just trying to make it through each and every day, remember to stand on the promises of God. Remember all that He is, how much He has brought you through, When the enemy has got you down, when he tempts you to despair, recognize that he is tempting you. "Lest Satan should take advantage of us; we are not ignorant of his devices." 2 Corinthians 2:11
And in the end, read Isaiah 14:12-21. It makes me laugh every time. You'll see why.
Hang in there all of you who may be struggling in spiritual warfare. And remember this most encouraging truth: the enemy only attacks those whom he is genuinely afraid of. He doesn't bother with the lost souls of the world - they're already his. But those who pose a legitimate threat to his reign he does his best to dispose of. So count it all joy when you go through trials! It means that God is still for you, and that you are still for God. Rest assured, He will do incredible things to those who give their heart entirely to Him. In the end, it is all about God's glory. Between God and Satan, there is no contest. Trust in the Lord's strength.
Because with God's strength and power, Satan gets his butt whooped every time.
2.15.2012
Love: The Reason We Exist
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." -- John 3:16
Why are we here? Love. That is the reason why we were created: for companionship, to love God and to be loved by Him. Think about it. Jesus, God in human flesh, said,
"For God so loved the world--"
Okay, stop right there. He loves the world. The entire world! Yes, that does include us, His chosen children, but that also includes everyone else. Everyone! Think of all the faces you see every day in your workplace, on your college campus, even in your family. He loves us ALL.
Yes, He takes especially good care of His children, those who believe in the Name of Jesus, just like a father or mother will show preference to their own children here on earth. I mean, would you love someone else's kid more than your own son or daughter? Of course not! You can love other people's children, sure, but your attention goes primarily to your own flesh and blood. In Matthew 12:49-50, Jesus tells us who His family are:
"Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."
Awesome, right? We all have the opportunity to be a part of God's famliy! And He wants a big family--the more, the merrier! But if we, His children, do not grasp in our own hearts that God loves the classmate who cusses, the uncle with an alcohol addiction, and the coworkers who gossip about who they've slept with, we will be tempted to be bitter and judgmental. After all, they too can become a part of God's famliy.
I have to warn myself sometimes not to become like a spoiled adopted child who forgets where she came from, to the point of being cold and unwelcoming to another adopted brother or sister entering the famliy. God loves the WHOLE world. That's everybody.
Are we going to be vessels of God's love for the world? The WHOLE world?
"We love Him because He first loved us." -- 1 John 4:19
We didn't earn God's love. We didn't choose in our sinful nature to love Him. He loved us first. He gives His love freely to those who believe. And He longs to give it to the rest of the world too.
Love. It's the reason we exist.
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." -- Romans 5:8
Why are we here? Love. That is the reason why we were created: for companionship, to love God and to be loved by Him. Think about it. Jesus, God in human flesh, said,
"For God so loved the world--"
Okay, stop right there. He loves the world. The entire world! Yes, that does include us, His chosen children, but that also includes everyone else. Everyone! Think of all the faces you see every day in your workplace, on your college campus, even in your family. He loves us ALL.
Yes, He takes especially good care of His children, those who believe in the Name of Jesus, just like a father or mother will show preference to their own children here on earth. I mean, would you love someone else's kid more than your own son or daughter? Of course not! You can love other people's children, sure, but your attention goes primarily to your own flesh and blood. In Matthew 12:49-50, Jesus tells us who His family are:
"Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."
Awesome, right? We all have the opportunity to be a part of God's famliy! And He wants a big family--the more, the merrier! But if we, His children, do not grasp in our own hearts that God loves the classmate who cusses, the uncle with an alcohol addiction, and the coworkers who gossip about who they've slept with, we will be tempted to be bitter and judgmental. After all, they too can become a part of God's famliy.
I have to warn myself sometimes not to become like a spoiled adopted child who forgets where she came from, to the point of being cold and unwelcoming to another adopted brother or sister entering the famliy. God loves the WHOLE world. That's everybody.
Are we going to be vessels of God's love for the world? The WHOLE world?
"We love Him because He first loved us." -- 1 John 4:19
We didn't earn God's love. We didn't choose in our sinful nature to love Him. He loved us first. He gives His love freely to those who believe. And He longs to give it to the rest of the world too.
Love. It's the reason we exist.
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." -- Romans 5:8
2.14.2012
Valentine's
Well, folks, it's that time of year again: Valentine's Day.
And chances are, you're doing one of two things:
1. Enjoying (or anticipating in pure bliss) a higly romantic pastime with your significant other, such as an elegant dinner, a Disneyland romp, or an intimate coffee date.
Or ...
2. You're sitting on your couch watching Pride and Prejudice while eating Haagen-Dazs ice cream and crying your eyes out. (You cry a little harder when Darcy tells Elizabeth that she has bewitched him body and soul)
To any guys who are reading this, chances are you will not be participating in the specific example provided in option two. At least, I should hope not ...
But male or female, you get the point, right? Why does Valentine's have to be either the happiest, most magical day of the year, or the most depressing? After years of "celebrating" Singles Awareness Day, I definitely fell under the latter category.
But this post is to all of my fellow single peeps who are tired of being S.A.D. As for me, I am pleased to announce that after almost seven years of whining, complaining about my singleness, and dying for a boyfriend, on this day I can say with the utmost confidence,
I am single, and I LOVE it.
Easy for you to say, you think. Some of us over here are still pretty depressed. Well, hopefully what I have to say encourages you a little bit. Bear with me.
So why am I not crying on the couch today eating chocolate ice cream, wallowing in self-pity, and watching romantic movies? Well, it's mostly because lately, God has helped me realize one thing:
My days as a single are truly gifts from above.
These are days when I can become involved in a sorority, get excited about my studies and future career, hone my talents, wake up every morning with a cup of tea and my Bible, spend time with beloved girlfriends, and put my time that I could be spending with a boyfriend into more beneficial pursuits, like ministering in the church, volunteering, etc.
Most of all, God is helping me discover who I really am.
And through it all, He is teaching me another truth: true love is also a gift from above.
And like all gifts, it must be given.
Which means that I dare not seek it out, strive for it, or spend my entire life pining for the day when it will actually happen. That's pretty much a waste of a life, if you ask me. And it's a waste of energy. It's tiring.
Now, don't think that I arrived at this conclusion without tears and pain. Yes, I had to learn this the hard way.
I could tell a long story, but it would not fit on the page. If any would like to talk to me personally about it, I would be more than happy to, especially since it has a happy ending and proves just how wonderful our Savior really is. One thing I just have to say, though. God revealed something precious to my heart on a day when I was lots in a dark cloud of loneliness and depression. He lured me to a quiet spot, a grassy lawn on my campus under the comforting shade of a tree, and He spoke these words to me. The "him" for you ladies reading this can refer to a future husband. Or for you guys, just replace the "him" with "her" to refer to a future wife.
Surrender him. Let him go. Give him up to my loving care. Relationships are not to be sought after or striven for. They are gifts to be given. By Me. If you are constantly striving to take him for yourself, you will continue to strive in sweat and energy to keep him. But, if you let him go and surrender him to me, you can trust Me that in My perfect timing, I will give him to you as a gift. Then he will be yours to keep. Then you will know that it is I who has given him to you. It will be a sweet and perfect gift, so much so that you cannot help but point to me and give me the glory for it. Entrust him to me. Set yourself free from striving. I will give you my perfect gift in my timing.
So today, I rejoice in my singleness, in the great love of my Savior, and in the promise that, if it is meant to be, my husband will be a joyous gift given to me by my precious King. I will wait however long it takes. For I would not trade my days of celibate freedom for anything.
But my darling, whoever you may be, I will wait until the day when I can make a full commitment to you and love you with the love of God above. And I know you will be completely worth it.
So to all my single friends, put down the ice cream, wipe away your tears, and spend today rejoicing for another day to be single, to hang out with friends, to grab a cup of coffee and curl up with your Bible, to spend a little more time with the One who loved you so much, He gave His life for you.
I'm content to be single. Are you?
And chances are, you're doing one of two things:
1. Enjoying (or anticipating in pure bliss) a higly romantic pastime with your significant other, such as an elegant dinner, a Disneyland romp, or an intimate coffee date.
Or ...
2. You're sitting on your couch watching Pride and Prejudice while eating Haagen-Dazs ice cream and crying your eyes out. (You cry a little harder when Darcy tells Elizabeth that she has bewitched him body and soul)
To any guys who are reading this, chances are you will not be participating in the specific example provided in option two. At least, I should hope not ...
But male or female, you get the point, right? Why does Valentine's have to be either the happiest, most magical day of the year, or the most depressing? After years of "celebrating" Singles Awareness Day, I definitely fell under the latter category.
But this post is to all of my fellow single peeps who are tired of being S.A.D. As for me, I am pleased to announce that after almost seven years of whining, complaining about my singleness, and dying for a boyfriend, on this day I can say with the utmost confidence,
I am single, and I LOVE it.
Easy for you to say, you think. Some of us over here are still pretty depressed. Well, hopefully what I have to say encourages you a little bit. Bear with me.
So why am I not crying on the couch today eating chocolate ice cream, wallowing in self-pity, and watching romantic movies? Well, it's mostly because lately, God has helped me realize one thing:
My days as a single are truly gifts from above.
These are days when I can become involved in a sorority, get excited about my studies and future career, hone my talents, wake up every morning with a cup of tea and my Bible, spend time with beloved girlfriends, and put my time that I could be spending with a boyfriend into more beneficial pursuits, like ministering in the church, volunteering, etc.
Most of all, God is helping me discover who I really am.
And through it all, He is teaching me another truth: true love is also a gift from above.
And like all gifts, it must be given.
Which means that I dare not seek it out, strive for it, or spend my entire life pining for the day when it will actually happen. That's pretty much a waste of a life, if you ask me. And it's a waste of energy. It's tiring.
Now, don't think that I arrived at this conclusion without tears and pain. Yes, I had to learn this the hard way.
I could tell a long story, but it would not fit on the page. If any would like to talk to me personally about it, I would be more than happy to, especially since it has a happy ending and proves just how wonderful our Savior really is. One thing I just have to say, though. God revealed something precious to my heart on a day when I was lots in a dark cloud of loneliness and depression. He lured me to a quiet spot, a grassy lawn on my campus under the comforting shade of a tree, and He spoke these words to me. The "him" for you ladies reading this can refer to a future husband. Or for you guys, just replace the "him" with "her" to refer to a future wife.
Surrender him. Let him go. Give him up to my loving care. Relationships are not to be sought after or striven for. They are gifts to be given. By Me. If you are constantly striving to take him for yourself, you will continue to strive in sweat and energy to keep him. But, if you let him go and surrender him to me, you can trust Me that in My perfect timing, I will give him to you as a gift. Then he will be yours to keep. Then you will know that it is I who has given him to you. It will be a sweet and perfect gift, so much so that you cannot help but point to me and give me the glory for it. Entrust him to me. Set yourself free from striving. I will give you my perfect gift in my timing.
So today, I rejoice in my singleness, in the great love of my Savior, and in the promise that, if it is meant to be, my husband will be a joyous gift given to me by my precious King. I will wait however long it takes. For I would not trade my days of celibate freedom for anything.
But my darling, whoever you may be, I will wait until the day when I can make a full commitment to you and love you with the love of God above. And I know you will be completely worth it.
So to all my single friends, put down the ice cream, wipe away your tears, and spend today rejoicing for another day to be single, to hang out with friends, to grab a cup of coffee and curl up with your Bible, to spend a little more time with the One who loved you so much, He gave His life for you.
I'm content to be single. Are you?
2.13.2012
Hooray! I officially have a blog!
This is a place where I can experiment with transcribing into print God's words of encouragement to me, His divine work, and my daily experiences in His grace, and it is my prayer that you are blessed by it. After all, none of this is of myself. I do not boast or take credit for anything. I am merely an empty vessel for God to pour into. Everything written here, I hope, will ultimately give glory to Him, for it is by His grace alone that I have come this far.
God is amazing, I have to say. I'm living proof!
Now, I may not be much in your eyes. I definitely do not see myself as much of anything. I just hope that I can be emptied of myself so that God can shine His own goodness and love through me. Believe me, on my own, I am not a pretty picture. Anything good in me comes from God above!
If at least one person is encouraged by at least one of my posts, praise God! He will have used me to bless them! But I sincerely hope that I can channel God's message of love so that you will know how much He loves you. I am not capable of that kind of love. Only He is.
Well, here we go! I am so excited! Gloria a Dios!
~Festivity
Psalm 46:10
This is a place where I can experiment with transcribing into print God's words of encouragement to me, His divine work, and my daily experiences in His grace, and it is my prayer that you are blessed by it. After all, none of this is of myself. I do not boast or take credit for anything. I am merely an empty vessel for God to pour into. Everything written here, I hope, will ultimately give glory to Him, for it is by His grace alone that I have come this far.
God is amazing, I have to say. I'm living proof!
Now, I may not be much in your eyes. I definitely do not see myself as much of anything. I just hope that I can be emptied of myself so that God can shine His own goodness and love through me. Believe me, on my own, I am not a pretty picture. Anything good in me comes from God above!
If at least one person is encouraged by at least one of my posts, praise God! He will have used me to bless them! But I sincerely hope that I can channel God's message of love so that you will know how much He loves you. I am not capable of that kind of love. Only He is.
Well, here we go! I am so excited! Gloria a Dios!
~Festivity
Psalm 46:10
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