November Quotes

Forgiveness is the key which unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness. The forgiveness of Jesus not only takes away our sins, it makes them as if they had never been.

-Corrie ten Boom

My trust is in the mercy and wisdom of a kind Providence, who ordereth all things for our good.

-Robert E. Lee

For every look at self, take ten looks at Christ.

-Robert Murray McCheyne

You are what you want to become long before you get there.

-Steve Riddell

If you let something steal your thanksgiving, you let something steal your joy, and if you let something steal your joy, you let something steal your strength.

-Unknown

The choice before us is: Do we only give glory to God for the part of our lives that's going the way we want? Or do we worship Him, trust Him, and GIVE HIM THANKS, just because He is God—regardless of the painful, incomprehensible places we encounter in our journey?

-Nancy Leigh DeMoss

When you love those who hurt you by praying for them, in that process you are being washed by the love of Christ and no unforgiveness is allowed to stay.

-Jim Staley

The thought that there beats a heart in heaven that is always loving us, that there moves a tongue in heaven that always pleads for us; that there is an arm in heaven that always fights for us; and that there is a foot in heaven that will be swift to run for our defense--oh! this is a precious consolation.

-Spurgeon

Grace that cannot be seen, like light, and tasted, like salt, is not grace, but hypocrisy. 

-J. C. Ryle

We are the people who can't distinguish between doctrine and application, in terms of saying one thing and doing another.

-Albert Mohler

Although it is very right to think about the future, it is very wrong to be controlled by it.

-Martyn Lloyd-Jones

The clouds must break somehow, and the sun is always behind them!

-George MacDonald

Surrender=Freedom

One of my posts was featured on Amy's blog this week. I had originally written it for her newsletter, but that was discontinued some time ago, so she kindly shared it on her blog. You can check it out HERE. :) 

My post for this week was written specifically for my Bible study group. Of the three Communities that our group participates in (prayer, Scripture memorization, and Scripture reading), I am the moderator of the Scripture reading community. And for the purposes of encouraging one another to stay in the Word, I write out a (sometimes short ;) encouragement post on a monthly basis. Several of those posts I've shared here already. And today's post provides yet another reason to faithfully read Scripture: to teach us to surrender. 

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We read Scripture to bring our minds into line with God’s Word. So often we tend to take control of every single detail of our lives that we forget Who’s really ruling the events of this universe. I’m not saying that we release all responsibility for everything we do, that would also be wrong. Surrender is a mental practice more than anything. It’s a willingness to take responsibility for what we do, do the best in everything we do, but yet release the results and future of it to God’s care. It’s a purposeful, conscious decision to submit to God’s ordering of our lives knowing that He can use the sinful and the righteous to fulfill His design for each of us.

Truly, truly, I say to you, 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)

Sometimes we surrender big things…careers, jobs, performance opportunities, relationships, finances, fears, etc. And sometimes surrender is needed for the smallest things, too: your daily schedule, that phone call, that social outing, the spoken word, the to-do list that didn’t get done. We surrender to find freedom, because holding tightly to things that aren’t ours to control will only hurt us and others. Surrender is a reminder to us that God gave us a will and charged us with responsibility in this life, but He’s still God. He’s the one on the throne. Surrender doesn’t change God; it changes us. It reminds us that we’re not in control of everything, that we don’t have to be either. The world doesn’t rest on our shoulders. It held in the hands of Jesus. Surrender reminds us that it’s God who works in us, and at the end of the day, it’s God who makes and will make all things good. Surrender reminds us of our position under Christ.

Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 16:24-25)

Surrender is not giving up. Sometimes it means fighting for what’s right even when there isn’t any hope in sight. Surrender means yielding everything you have to Christ and letting Him create the end result. Sometimes that means burning yourself out in doing what God has commanded you to do, and then standing aside and praying that the Holy Spirit shows you the results.

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12b-13)

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. (Philippians 3:12) 

Perhaps one of the best visible ways (though certainly not the only way) we surrender is through forgiveness. Forgiveness is releasing a person from the debt they owed you. A debt they couldn’t repay. Forgiveness means that you don’t bring up the offense to yourself, to that person, or to others. It means releasing that person from their bondage to you (whether or not they acknowledge it) and not expecting “payment”.

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (Colossians 3:12-13)

But whether surrender is shown through forgiveness or whether it’s a prayer in the middle of the night, surrender is a giving up of ourselves to Christ. After all, we are called to be “little Christs”, and He not only demonstrated surrender to His Father’s will, but He also demonstrated surrender when He said “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”. In that surrender, He found victory. No, He created the victory that we would live in. We read Scripture to bring our hearts and minds into surrender. In the words of life we find that the Holy Spirit is the one who brings our wills into line with God’s will. In surrender you find freedom, you find victory, because you’re not in control. God is.

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. (1 John 5:4)

And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:39) 

Tough Faith

I've been reading through the Psalms for the past four days, and I will finish it in three days. Spending a week in the Psalms is one of the parts of my Bible reading schedule that I look forward to the most, as they are the praises and pleadings of God's children.

One phrase from the notes from my study Bible summed up one of the themes of Psalms: Tough faith will not let go. We see examples continually of the Psalmists when they're in the deepest valleys struggling with depression, despair, and discouragement. Their fears are real, and God knows that. He doesn't condemn them for their sorrow and hurt, but rather responds to their faith that would not let go. God brings them comfort and relief in Him--not necessarily relief and comfort by removing the difficult circumstances.

One of the first examples comes in Psalm 3, when David flees from his son Absalom.

O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. 

David was often in physical, mental, spiritual, or emotional trouble, and this setting is no different. Yet in the next two verses, he is instantly reminded of who God is, and he finds his salvation in God. Tough faith doesn't let go, but consciously reminds oneself of God's faithfulness. God met David where he was and provided strength even in the presence of his enemies.

But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. 

Psalm 13:1-2 gives another example of David's pleas to God when he feels like he can't endure any longer:

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long mustI take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

 That's how David begins the Psalm, but because tough faith doesn't let go but rejoices in trusting God, he ends the Psalm very differently.

But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me. 

Psalm 27 shows the contrast of fear and faith in almost each line. Tough faith takes courage in God's past, present, and future protection and rests in the knowledge of a glorious future with Christ.

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? ...Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident...For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock....I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Psalm 35 is one of David's pleas to God for vindication from those who maliciously accuse him, but again David's tough faith won't let go, but chooses to rejoice in a God who will restore justice and righteousness for him.

Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know. They repay me evil for good; my soul is bereft....But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered; they gathered together against me; wretches whom I did not know tore at me without ceasing; like profane mockers at a feast, they gnash at me with their teeth....Vindicate me, O Lord, my God, according to your righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me! ...Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.

Psalm 71 is another lament by an unknown author. Here tough faith doesn't let go, and chooses to hope in a God who has always been greater than the discouragement of fear. 

O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! May by accusers be put to shame and consumed; with scorn and disgrace may they be covered who seek my hurt. But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. Wiht the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.

But it was from on of the Psalms written by the sons of Korah that this phrase ("tough faith will not let go") comes from. Psalm 88 describes a person who is consumed with troubles so much so that even his closest friends avoid him. This isn't a Psalm that even "ends well", but rather describes the severe sorrow, pain, and discouragement that God's people often face. But even in the suffering tough faith will not let go, but chooses to continually cry out to God for mercy, refuge, and healing. 

You have caused my companions to shun me; you have made me a horror to them. I am shut in so that I cannot escape; my eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call upon you, O Lord; I spread out my hands to you. 

Even in the troubles that overwhelmed his soul, tough faith chose to relentlessly pursue God through prayer. Each day he called upon God pleading with him through the darkness for salvation. 

Tough faith never gives up. 
Tough faith never loses heart. 
Tough faith never breaks faith. 
Even in the valleys. 

His Comfort!

Sometimes it's hard to know what to write on a public blog. And sometimes it's even harder, because I don't schedule out posts in advance. I tend to write as the Lord leads through experiences. I wrote a collection of devotionals last year, and because there is such a thing as "writer's block", I'd like to share one of them here with you. ;) I hope it's an encouragement to you. 

Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. 

(Philippians 4:1, ESV)

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My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Psalm 73:26

            It’s when our strength is needed most that we are overwhelmed with our utter weakness.  Our finite body, mind, and emotions force us to stop, and our willpower says “I can’t go on”. Our physical power reaches its limit, and our mental stability cracks. Such is the constant condition of each human.

            But God doesn’t leave us here, to collapse under the effects of sin. The Psalmist acknowledges his source of strength even when his body and mind gives out: God. God is our strength; He’s the strength of our life and our emotions. The heart is the seat of our emotions, and God is the one who controls their intensity. When your emotions are drained, when you can only cry out to God with the little effort you have left—then He becomes your complete strength. He makes the wounded to fly with the wings of eagles. Not the whole, and not the perfect; but the wounded, cast down, and broken does He heal. He becomes their strength when they have no other.

            In providing food for us, He restores our bodily health, giving strength to the mind, as well. Sometimes our mental weakness correlates to our physical weakness. We will feel sick if we don’t keep our strength with regular intake of food. Yet, even though we may be physically healthy, God still provides a better food for us. His meat and drink fail not, and they satisfy the receiver, so that they will never hunger nor thirst again. He is our  portion. The One who said “Take eat. This is my body which is broken for you”, and “This cup is the new testament of my blood.” The soul food that’s enough—the Bread of Live and the Living Water—it never runs out. He is enough. 

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No stars gleam as brightly as those which glisten in the polar sky. No water tastes so sweet as that which springs amid the desert sand. And no faith is so precious as that which lives and triumphs through adversity. Tested faith brings experience. You would never have believed your own weakness had you not needed to pass through trials. And you would never have known God’s strength had His strength not been needed to carry you through.

-Charles H. Spurgeon

May you find comfort in Jesus, strength in your King, salvation in your God, and wisdom through the Holy Spirit. Stand firm in Him.