Category Archives: Developing Faith

Bring Them!

Imagine the depth of fear and panic when you realize your only child is suddenly dangerously ill. You cannot think; you can barely breathe. You search your mind to think of what you did, or did not do, that may have contributed to this. You desperately claw through the fear to think of ways to fix it.

I heard a story about a child who fell and had a serious head injury. She came into the ER with her mother’s arms strapped around her. The mother was gasping for breath as she wept over her unconscious child. She was heard murmuring over and over, “I only turned my back for a few seconds.” The mother’s grip was like an iron vise around her daughter; she would not let go; she would not surrender her daughter to the care of others. The doctors had to sedate the mother, before they could work on her daughter.

Most parents understand the gut twisting fear that lodges in us when we see our children in danger or hurting. The age of our children does not reduce the concern and fear. They can be 3, 13, or 43, but the angst inside us remains.

The type of danger or troubles our children face, be it a physical health challenge; a learning disability; a mental health problem; bullying or other social relationship difficulties, and even spiritual confusion and lostness does not stop the desperate desire we have for the wholeness, well-being and safety for our children.

Whether we face these troubles short term or drawn out over time, I want to recommend bringing Jesus on the journey with our children.

God’s Heart Revealed
The scriptures reveal the heart and the integrity of Jesus for our children. Through out the years of caring for my child, or as a teacher in caring for the children of others, I have come to learn that the truths about Jesus’ love as revealed in scripture provide reassurance and hope for parents.

God’s heart for our children is spotlighted in the accounts of Jesus with children. The scriptures below reveal the value God holds for our children.

  • Luke 18:16-17- But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
  • Mark 9:36-37-Then He had a little child stand among them. Taking the child in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes not only Me, but the One who sent Me.”
  • Matthew 18:10, 12 – “See that you do not look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven … What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?
  • Verses 10 and 12, describe the value with which God regards our children. The value and regard for a child, and the value that would cause a shepherd to leave 99 sheep and go find the one lost sheep, is the same kind of valuing that God has for each one of our children. . As a parent, I can rest knowing that God has this kind of all out value for my child.

The Heart of God for Children  – Revealed in the Actions of Jesus!
The scriptures above reveal God’s value and love for children. Jesus puts flesh on God’s love. Jesus interacted with children and their parents.  He acted on their behalf and for their well-being. There are several accounts of Jesus helping parents and children.

One story we read demonstrates Jesus’ love and care as He uses His power to heal a boy whom He never saw or touched. In John 4:47-54, we see a parent approaching Jesus and asking Him to heal his son. At first, it seems that Jesus rebukes the man for wanting “to see Jesus actually healing his son.” We get this thought from Jesus’ response: “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” Jn. 4:48

I love the fact that this man is not offended or put off by Jesus’ seeming rebuke, but rather, in faith the man presses the issue. The man (the royal official) said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

This is a parent who is desperate. He does not indulge himself in an emotional response to Jesus’ rebuke, or give into fear for his son; but rather, in faith and in fierce protective mode for his son, the man pushed Jesus further. I confess I might have been offended or intimidated by Jesus’ response and have given up.

This time Jesus replies, “Go, your son will live.” Interesting that Jesus seems to hand the man yet another challenge to his faith. In a sense, Jesus is saying: “I am not coming to your house to take your child’s hand and say prayers over him. Go home. I’ve got this. My power is not limited by time and space.”

Again, I would have felt dismissed, ignored, and said something like, “I can’t believe I came to you for help and you don’t even have enough sympathy for my situation that you won’t come to my home and try to help me.”

When Jesus tells the man to go home, the man does. He does not linger trying persuade Jesus to come with him. This man had seen what Jesus could do. He took it into his heart and mind and “believed.” So, when Jesus says, “Go home, your son will live.” This man took Jesus at His word, trusted, and went home. I pray for that kind of faith, the believing without seeing faith.

This parent in John 4, sets and example for me. Jesus is God. I can rest in the truth that Jesus loves my children and acts through time and space on their behalf when I ask Him.

Jesus Understands a Parent’s Fear
We see a similar interaction of Jesus on behalf of a parent and child in Mark 5:21-43. In this account, a father, by the name of Jairus, pursues Jesus amidst the throng in the market place.  Jairus asks Jesus to come and to heal his daughter. Jairus is challenged by time; the need for Jesus to act quickly, and by the increasing crowds.

Jesus agrees to go to Jairus’ house, but on the way, Jesus stops to heal a woman in need. As I put myself in Jairus’ place I know I would have been filled with fear, anxiety and maybe even anger that Jesus would spend precious time on this woman instead of making haste to my house to heal my dying daughter.

I imagine Jairus pacing in place and huffing as Jesus turns around to find the one who touched Him in the crowd. The scripture does not reveal Jairus’ thoughts during this time, but it is likely that Jesus’ stopping to heal the woman was a challenge to his faith, yet at the same time it may have increased his faith, because Jairus sees the depth of love and compassion that Jesus has for one woman.

Another faith challenge is presented to Jairus as he arrives outside his home. He is greeted by people telling him not to bother Jesus any longer because there is no hope -His daughter is dead. But, Jesus, recognizing what a challenging time this is for these parents, tells Jairus not to listen to those voices. Jesus then raises the daughter from death and returns her to her parents.

When my child is in trouble with sickness, or relationships, or troubles with school work, or questioning his/her faith; what voices will I believe?

Draw Down Hope from Jesus
We can draw down faith and hope from the actions and love of Jesus. No matter what voices of fear, doubt, accusation, or blame call to us in our minds, we can choose to overrule these thoughts and feelings by the truth we read in scripture about Jesus, and by the truth we know about Him from our own experience with Him.

That truth is that Jesus is God, and He is ever willing and able to help us and our children as we experience different troubles in life.  So, I want to encourage us to take a fresh look at the accounts of Jesus with parents and children in the scriptures, and bring the truths we see about Him into our lives and the lives of our children.

Finishing Strong

One of my favorite characters in the Lord of the Rings is Samwise Gamgee. He presents as real and very human. In this tale of the struggle between light and dark, Samwise exhibits a faith, loyalty and a strength of character that go far beyond what we would expect of the average hobbit.

Close to the end of the book as Sam and Frodo labor their way up Mount Doom, Sam senses the heaviness of their task, and feels the inevitability of their death. He thinks:
“. . . we are going to die, and we should just lay down, curl up in a ball and sleep and die. But then – then something happened – even as hope seemed to die in Sam, it was turned into a new strength. Sam’s plain hobbit face grew stern, almost grim, as the will hardened in him, and he felt through all his limbs a thrill, as if he was turning into some creature of stone and steel that neither despair nor weariness nor endless barren miles could subdue.”

At the end of the journey, Sam came into a clear perspective of the goal and was renewed in hope and strength. He was able to finish strong and help his friend to do the same.

Changes in the Dark
Laying in the dark craigs of Mount Doom, Sam was being turned into something of greatness.
Scripture teaches us that dark/difficult times indeed do make us stronger, and lift us to a higher version of who God is forming us to be. We know that God uses all things in our life, even those shadowy dark times, to conform us to the image of His Son.

  • Romans 8:28-29a – “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.29For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son . . .”

In December of 2021 I was diagnosed with a somewhat rare blood disorder a myeloproliferative neoplasm. In my case, it was caused by a mutation which affects the bone marrow and how it produces platelets. I was told there was no cure but the immediate risk of a heart attack or stroke from too many platelets could be managed by medication. At this time my doctor and I are trying different rotations of the medication in order to find what manages the platelet number most effectively. Both the medication and the mutation can produce other significant issues that we seek to control.  Already it has affected the production of red blood cells in my body, limiting the amount produced and changing their size. All of which diminish the life force energy in my body.

So, as I sit in the craigs of Mount Doom, or as the scriptures say: “walk in the valley of the shadow of death,” I must choose how I will face life “in this shadow.” What will I let this threat of darkness form in me? Despair, anger, bitterness, doubt, fear, self-pity; or faith, peace, hope, and light? It is a choice as to how I will live this time, and since we are all terminal, it is a choice that all of us should be considering.

What do I need to finish strong?
Faith in Salvation
We know we will die, but when we face this reality daily in our life – fears, insecurities and various feelings pop up. One of the first things I did was to ground myself in the truths about my relationship with God, and about my salvation.

The Spirit called to mind truths in God’s word that affirm to me that my salvation and the security of my relationship with God does not depend on what I have done, achieved, my heritage or my social standing.

The truth is Jesus died to procure forgiveness for my sins, He gives me His righteousness, and He brings me into God’s presence here as well as after death. I trust these eternal truths in order to resist doubt and fear and to help me finish strong.

  • “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.” Romans 3:23-24a
  • Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1
  • In Him and through faith in Him we may enter God’s presence with boldness and confidence. Ephesians 3:12

Practice Living in the Presence of God
Each day, I will live in my relationship with God. Those of us who are “Christians” believe we have a relationship with God, but at times, we do not live with God’s presence as a reality.

Living as if the presence of God in our lives is real is different from reading the Bible and praying, although those activities are an important aspect of the presence of God in our life.

Making God’s presence real in my life is a way of moving through my day as if God was right by my side. So, I use the imagination God gave me and I insert myself in scripture truths. Such as from Psalm 23, I picture myself as a lamb leaning into the Good Shepherd, Jesus, as we prepare to walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

It is not only a way of thinking, but also a way of talking with God throughout the day; acknowledging Him before I do something; consulting with Him about decisions I make, sharing with Him how I am feeling at any given moment. (Prov. 3:6; 16:3; 1 Peter 5:7)

In the morning I have coffee with God and talk with Him about my sins, my struggles, my plans for the day, people I love, and people that I will interact with during the day.

Sometimes the intensity of the activities of my day and the speed at which they transpire can block my awareness of God’s presence, so I slow down, draw boundaries, and deliberately take time to intentionally redirect my attention to God.

Practice Gratitude and Praise
I have a choice as I walk this valley, I can let the darkness and shadows, rule me, or I can look for the light. There is so much light in praising and thanking God. A grateful heart radiates light, faith and power.

Since the diagnosis, I have made it a rule ( a principle to live by) in my life which is to praise God when the sunrises; thank Him for breath of life each day. When the sun sets, I acknowledge His name and thank Him for this day. (Ps. 113:3, From the rising of the sun to its setting, let the name of Yahweh be praised.)

Meditating on His love, grace, and mighty works, brings light and strength in my mind and heart. I will praise God for He is my light and my salvation and He will help me finish strong.

  • The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him. Exodus 15:2
  • Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Hallelujah!150:6
  • You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.16:11

Someone once said, “Until God opens the next door, praise Him in the hallway. “

Keep Building into the Lives of Others
Time is our greatest currency. I will invest in the people that God puts in my life for their good and God’s glory. I refuse to waste another minute, because the clock is ticking. I will give to others the faith, love, grace, peace, joy, and hope God has and is giving to me.

Acts 13:36 reports of David and his life; “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors …”.

In this stage of life God makes me more keenly aware that I do not live on this earth for my own purposes and desires. I belong to God and He to me and I belong to you and you to me. (Romans 12:5; John 17:20-21; Eph. 4:12)

I ask myself these questions to help me finish strong:

  • What am I doing with the time God has gifted me?
  • How many people will be stronger because I am here?
  • How many people will have a change of mind, perspective, and purpose because I am here?
  • How many people will know more about God because I am here?
  • How many people will believe in God because I am here?
  • Am I bearing forward the image of God or just shining my “self?”

It is my prayer that you and I will find the purpose that God has for us, and that we will live it out to the very finish.

Reflections
There is so much more that I am learning about finishing strong, like how I hope to build into my family while I am here with them.

This whole experience is a wake-up call to me about how I am living out my relationship with God. Am I on the “religious treadmill” or am I truly walking with God?

There is one who has gone before us and faced the darkness for us all. In Gethsemane, Jesus faced the darkness. He allowed it to descend on Him; he allowed it to crush Him, so that He could bring us into the presence of God. In the darkness of the cross, Jesus finished strong for you and me.

It does not matter if God grants me a miracle cure and fills me with strength and energy, what matters is that I live in faith in Him and honor Him with this life He has graciously given me through Jesus.

Wherever you are on your journey with God, at the beginning, mid-way or end, please take time to think about your relationship with God, and how you will live it out each day in order to finish strong with God.

We Can Only Imagine

Imagination is a part of our intellect. God created us with the ability to imagine and He expects us to use our imagination to grow in truth and faith, and connection with Him.

When we think of faith and the Word of God, we think of scholarly study involving analysis and exposition which is important to our growth. We rarely think of imagination in regard to Biblical truth, some may even call it frivolous. Yet, imagination is a key to growth in faith.

Neuroscience reports that we are more apt to think in pictures than in text. For example, if I were to ask you what you had for dinner last night, you would see yourself at the dinner table with your plate of chicken, rice and salad, or whatever. You would not see text in your mind as if it were a teleprompter listing off the things you ate. Upon calling up the picture of dinner in your mind you might even salivate, if you are hungry.

Tell me what is in the backseat of your car! What did you see? Did you see text listing the items in your backseat, or did you visualize your backseat with the child seat, the red umbrella and a box of tissues? Experience tells us you would see a picture in your mind of the contents of your backseat.

God and Imagination
God speaks to us in images, in pictures to encourage our faith and to lead us into knowledge of him.

I think this is a truth about God that is worthy of our attention, gratitude and praise. God wants us to know Him and be in a close relationship with Him. He meticulously crafted His word, His communication to us so that we may know Him and believe Him. God expects us to use all aspects of our cognitive processing to know Him.

Let’s look at some of the word pictures that God uses to help us see and know Him, His character and heart towards us.

In Isaiah 6:1-4, God uses a striking visual, through our imagining this visual, we catch a glimpse of the glory, majesty and greatness of God.

  • In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;    the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

Throughout the Psalms various writers have been inspired to provide words that create a picture in our mind to reveal God’s character and heart towards us. Without such images, we might not understand some of these truths.

Psalm 18:1-2 provides seven words that create a picture in our minds that reveal truth about God, who He is and wants to be in our life.

  • The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

I want to focus on one of these words: stronghold. In English we hear stronghold and think of a fortress or a castle like structure. The KJV translates the word stronghold as “high tower.”

In Hebrew it is the word “misgab” which is different from the word form for fortress. “Misgab” brings out the idea of height, a stronghold that is secure in a height putting one safe above the trouble. So, while there is trouble all around us, in God – in our relationship with God, we are secure as in His high tower.

What an amazing picture that reveals God’s specific care of us. God does not always remove us from trouble, but He is showing us, literally, that He is a safe place amidst the trouble.

God does not use these specific word pictures for nothing. He is intent on communicating to you and me that He is a very safe and secure place. We are to connect this truth with ourselves. Imagine yourself in God’s high tower!

In the midst of the spiritual battle, in the midst of the struggles of life, I don’t always feel like I am secure in  a high tower, but nevertheless,  it is true. I need to trust the images God communicates, and imagine myself in that closeness with Him, in His protective place. This brings God’s truth into our reality.

Connecting Imagination to Truth
If you are a student of the Bible, I am sure you have seen may amazing visuals that God provides to us to reveal His closeness to us and His intention for us. God speaks to our imagination in numerous ways in the scriptures.

Here are a few more examples:

  • 2 Kings 6:16-17– God shows the truth of the spiritual world and how He is always fighting for us.  Think of this picture, imagine these spiritual forces helping you through a temptation of trial.
  • John14:1-3– Jesus uses a picture of a home in heaven with God, that, He, Jesus will personally bring us to. Yes, He is saying this to the disciples who are were with Him at that time, but it is a truth spoken in imagery to comfort us so that we can know there is a place for us with Him in eternity. When we picture ourselves going there with Jesus, we can grasp God’s intention for us and endure the troubles of this life.

You Inside Psalm 23
One of my favorite story pictures that I can easily imagine myself into is the tender care, guidance and protection of the Shepherd in Psalm 23.

Recently, I have been diagnosed with a blood disorder that puts me at high risk for blood clots, stroke, etc. I was told there is no cure, only a form of managing this disorder. In the course of treatment, a second problem has presented itself, which is a progression of decreased red blood cells which has a whole host of consequences for my body and health.

There are many ways that faith in God’s truths have been encouraging me during this “in the valley of the shadow of death” time. I have been reviewing truths about the basis of my salvation and renewing my faith in those truths.

The imagery through which God communicates in Psalm 23, is a spectacular support to my faith. Verses 4 and 6 stand out to me.

  • Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me . . . Surely (Your) goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

I read this and see it in my mind the way God intended.

  • I see myself as one of His sheep
  • He is standing next to me with His rod and staff to protect and lead me
  • We are looking into the valley
  • I am leaning into Him and He puts His reassuring hand on my head to remind me that He is walking this with me
  • I see His goodness and mercy following us, sometimes even getting ahead of us leading us to the house of the Lord in heaven.

This is an example of connecting with truths in the scripture through the visuals God provides, and through that part of our intellect which is imagination.

A Final Encouragement
I urge you to read the great truths of the Word of God. Seriously ponder the word pictures and various stories through which God communicates Himself to us. Begin to connect these truth to you and your relationship with God by using your imagination.

This type of meditation will strengthen your faith and your connection with God. I do caution you to combine scholarly study with the imaginative function of your mind to allow the truth to have full impact on your faith.

“Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things in Your law/teachings/Word.”
Psalm 119:18 

The Value of Identity

Most people, myself included, want to be valued, respected, accepted and known. I have often sought my value in my characteristics, titles, positions or things I do.

In our society, we are schooled to do this from an early age. We learn what pleases others, what others esteem or value; and we tend to pattern ourselves after that. We work to earn and build our worth as perceived others.

This principle of seeking our value and identity in the valuation of us by others is a force at work in our life. There are times we may be aware of it, and other times that it is a subtle undercurrent in our life. We all want to be effective and contributing to our society, families and so on. But at times, this desire to achieve to help, to grow, to learn, can become confused with who we are and the concept of our worth.

This drive can be at work in our lives, even as believers in God, and active members in the fellowship of believers.

My Journey
I confess, I participated in this “value achieving cycle” both knowingly and unknowingly. Throughout my youth, my worth was communicated to me by my parents and others in my circle of life. Most of these “valuations”  had to do with my: physical appearance; scholastic achievements in terms of grades and various honors, titles and positions; and with whom I was associated.

As a young professional, I pursued becoming  a master teacher in order to define myself and increase my value. ( I have to say, that I loved my work and the students ). However, once I stepped on that wheel it was difficult to get off.

During the first few years of my teaching profession, I learned about having a genuine relationship with God. I intellectually understood the truths about God’s love for me, but I was still running on that wheel of self – producing value. I became a follower of Jesus, however I later realized that I still had that misunderstanding of my identity and value. I merely changed the arena (from work to church) in which I sought my own “self – generated value.”

But God is a loving Father, His reputation and honor does not stand or fall based on my achievements. He has worked patiently with me through the years to reveal to me who I am “becoming in Him” since the day I said “Yes” to the salvation Jesus offered.

Slowly and patiently, at levels I could understand, God began to uncover my faulty value system, and to  reveal to me my true identity and value in Him. Seeking self- value in things I have done or the status I have gained in the eyes of men and women, had blinded me to seeing God’s value and identity for me.

Knowing Who You Are in the Eyes of God Is Everything
If we meditate, humbly and intentionally, on truths from God’s Word about who we are in Him and His value for us, it is transforming.

These truths are throughout the scripture. I want to share some of the references to these truths with you for your further consideration.

The True Reveal
In Christ Jesus we have these identities that reveal God’s value of us. This “valuing by God” is real, even if we do not perceive it. My perception does not change truths of God..

I am a child of the living God, John1 :12-13
I am a partaker in God’s divine nature, 2 Peter 1:3-4
I am a temple for the Spirit of God,1 Corinthians 6:19
I am a member of the Household of God, Hebrews 3:6
I am a masterpiece of God, hand-crafted by Him,  Eph. 2:10
I am a treasure chest of God, 2 Corinthians 4:6-7
I am the aroma of Christ spreading the fragrance of His life and victory, 2 Corinthians 15-16
I am holy and blameless before God in Christ, Eph. 1:4-7; Hebrews 10:14
I am the righteousness of God in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24
I am a vessel of honor in the house of God, 2 Timothy 2:21
I am a personal Ambassador of Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:20-21
I am a royal priest of God, 1 Peter 2:9
I am a friend of Jesus, John 15:15; Romans 4:3-5
I am a victor in Christ, Romans 8:37

It Is True
These statements declare the truth about who I am and who you are in Christ. Each truth reveals our identity in Christ, but also how esteemed and valued we are by God. The fact that I am hand-crafted by God, or that He makes me a partaker of His very nature, speaks volumes as to the depth of His love and valuing of me/us.

There are other similar truths in the scriptures that are not referenced here, and they also reveal who we are, what we now have in Jesus, and what we are empowered by Jesus to do.

I listen intently to these truths that Jesus speaks over me through His Word. There are days that my past, my relationships, my experiences, my insecurities, social media and my failings speak another message of who I am and what my value is. Reading these truths of God ground me.

Proof that God Values Us
A favorite scripture that always brings me back to a right mindset about my value and identity is stated  in 1 Peter 1:18-19.

  • For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

Look at all the “valuing” in this passage:

God, the Creator and Sustainer of all life – the eternal all majestic God, redeemed me/us from an empty living, that is a life of not knowing our true identity, value and purpose. He deliberately planned to redeem us from the cycle of creating our own identity, and/or from being shaped into the mold of the world’s identities.

God redeemed That is, God bought us out of the emptiness and darkness of the kingdom of this world and brought us into His light and refuge.  Do we really know what and who we have been ransomed from?  We have been bought out of enslavement to sin, darkened understanding of who we are, out of an unrealized relationship with the prince of darkness, and out of alienation in relationship with God. Colossians 1:13-14 details this:

  • “He (God) has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

God redeemed us. The ransom price, the buyback price, is the life blood of Jesus, the Son of God. In a sense, God rescued His kidnapped children, not with millions of dollars, or gold or jewels, but with the blood of Jesus, the Son of God. This is our value. Our identity is wrapped up in this ransom price and great love that God behind it. This is a truth that requires prayerful thought.

Closing Reflections:

  • What/who is the source of my identity and value? Is it me; my achievements; my status among people; my relationships,; my connections; my reputation; or, is God and my relationship with Him the basis of my identity and worth?
  • Re-think who you are. Each day, read one of the identity scriptures presented in this article and ask God to reveal to you what each truth means for your life.

Story Busters #1

We all have a story, actually we have many stories about our life and who we are. These are narratives that we have learned to tell ourselves, and they exert a powerful control over us.

Truly the origin and influence of such narratives belongs in the realm of psychology, but not entirely. They also are in our spiritual realm, and impact our faith and growth as daughters and sons of God.

Throughout our life, people and our experiences have molded these stories.  The problem with most of these stories is that they are not true or I should say, they are not fully true.

We need to take time to think about these narratives about who we are – that we have fashioned or that have been fashioned  for us. If we are not alert to life in the Spirit, or to the spiritual world, these false stories will rule our lives.

 It’s All in Your Mind
Our mind, that is  – how we think, has a most significant role in our walk with God. The mind is the major arena from which our life plays out. We know this because God addresses our minds in many ways. In a sense, God is saying, “Make sure you are believing the right story/narrative about you and Me.”

Romans 12:2 declares the importance of the mind:

  • “Do not conform to the pattern of this world (to the story or narrative of this world), but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

We see this same thread of thought again in Ephesians 4:21-24 which reveals the true narrative about God and me/you.

  • “Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him—in keeping with the truth that is in Jesus ( in keeping with the true narrative about you and God) — to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

In the parable of the “prodigal son”, we see a young man who was believing some false narratives about who he was, and about his relationship with his father. In this parable the Holy Spirit emphasizes the importance of our mind in our relationship with God.

Luke 15 narrates the story of this “lost” son. The Spirit  in verse 17 says: ““But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!

The expression “when he came to himself” literally means when he came to a better mind; when he had a right way of thinking, a right way of framing who he is and his relationship with his father.

The Word of God and Our Stories
Truths from the Word of God have the power to demolish our false narratives. The truths of God are story busters, so to speak. The divine truth has a power to destroy the siegeworks of our false narratives.

This truth is stated in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5.

  • “The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

The word “arguments” in verse 5 refers to: flawed conclusions based on false assumptions; narratives that are against the truths of God – that are in contrast to the true narrative that God reveals about Himself and us in Christ Jesus in His Word.

The weapons of God have the power of God to breakdown, to destroy the siege works of our false narratives.

Truth-Busts through the Siegeworks
I want to review some basic truths that will demolish the false stories we tend to live by. Though we may know these truths, we have to understand that there is a difference between knowing and believing. If I do not apply personal faith to these truths for my life and my relationship with God, I will have spent my life being religious, but will have missed truly knowing God.

Story Buster #1 – I am a new creation, the old has no part in who I am. 2 Corinthians 5:17-18

  • Therefore if anyone is in Christ, she/he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.

I have been made new by God through my faith in Jesus and His atoning blood. The old narratives/stories no longer define me and have power over me. The truth of what Jesus has done for me and in me – breaks the pattern of the old and reveals the truth of who I am.

Not only that, but I did not achieve this with anything I have done, God did it by accepting the sacrifice of His Son on my behalf and reconciling me, making me right with Him and bringing me into His presence.

Also, not only am I restored to God’s image, but I am brought into God’s mission and ministry of busting false narratives and restoring His true image in others.

Story Buster #2- There is no condemnation for me, because I have been set free from the power of sin and death. (Rom 8:1-2)

  • Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death.…

This is a life – giving truth for all of us, but especially for those who are taunted by their past narratives of never being worthy, and feeling weighed down by their sin. The truth is Jesus makes us worthy. My worthiness is based in His forgiveness and the righteousness that He gives to me. (Eph. 1:7-8; 2 Cor. 5:21)

Do the Work- Make the Choice
These are only two of the powerful truths of God, there are more that we will explore in the future. Take time to do the work:

  • thinking about the narratives that rule you;
  • finding of these truths that will set you free:
  • choosing to trust these truths daily.

I choose to live by these freeing truths. Not only do these truths free me from the truth that I was an enemy of God, but they free me from all the false narratives and constructs I and others have woven around me, such as: who I am, who God is, who I am in relationship to God and who I am in relation to others.

These truths have the power to demolish the siegeworks that hold me captive. But I need to choose to look at my true state , as well as the resultant false narratives, and then choose to believe the true story of God and me – everyday!

 

Leaning Into God – Magnifying God-5

Ankyloglossia is the Greek term for “stiff-tongue.” It is a medical condition that a person is born with and can affect their ability to take nourishment, as well as impact speech as a child develops.

At times when I try to express my thanksgiving and praise to God, I feel like I have a “stiff tongue.” So, as you know from previous blog posts, this January I began a journey to learn from the Word of God how to express my thanksgiving and praise to Him. I have invited you on this journey.

 Deeper Gleanings
The learning curve is high. I am discovering direction from God in His word for what to praise him and even what to say as we saw in Psalm 66:3. Here the Spirit literally tells us what to say.

  • “Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! How great is your power that your enemies cringe before You.”

As the Spirit reveals in the Word the what and the how about expressing thanks to God, I am also learning about the Who.  I am seeing God, His character; who He is; how He thinks about me (us), and how He interacts with us.

Thank You for Your Faithfulness
In my search for how to more adequately express my thanks and praise to God I learn from David in Psalm 138:2 that he advocates thanking and praising God for His faithfulness.

  • “I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness.”

As we follow the psalmist’s lead and praise God for his faithfulness it opens a door for us the see God and to know Him as faithful to us.

Deuteronomy 7:9 makes a clear statement about the nature and character of God as being faithful.

  • “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.”

In Acts 2:38-39, we see the fulfillment pf this promise unto us and generations after us.

  • Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off (generations to come), everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

Lean On Him
In Deuteronomy 7:9 God is identified as the faithful God. The word for faithful in that text is “aman” meaning confirming, supporting, reliable. The faithful one is the one who sustains, carries, nurtures, supports and builds up. The faithful one is trustworthy and can be leaned on. The faithful one is consistent in being true and right.

God, as the Faithful One is consistent in daily applying His love, mercy grace and care for us. In Lamentations 3:22-23, Jeremiah describes this faithfulness as emanating from God’s devotion to us.

  • “Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!”

This truth about the faithful nature of God sounds a resounding chord of hope within me. It assures me that God is faithful to be forgiving and merciful to me every day.

I can lean on this truth when that accusatory voice sounds within me, reciting all the ways I failed, all the ways I missed the mark. That voice that reverberates with echoes of “you are not worthy; you are not good enough; yet again you messed up.”  It is that voice shaded in darkness that we all hear.

But, knowing that God is faithful, that He is consistent in His love and grace to us and that I can lean on Him for support in my weakness leads me to life, hope and faith. That hope explodes in praise to God for His faithfulness to me.

Facets of Faithfulness
There are many ways that God is faithful to us. As a meditation exercise, read the verses below. Let them speak to you and help connect with God’s faithfulness in your life.

God’s faithfulness is a protection.

  • “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” Ps. 91:4

God’s faithfulness is eternal.

  • “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and bless His name. For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” Ps. 100:4-5

God’s work is done in faithfulness.

  • “For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. 33:4”

We see God is faithful in His work of salvation to us . This truth of God’s devoted faithfulness is attested to in 1 Corinthians 1:8-9.

  • “He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.”

The Faithful One is with us in the hard times.

When I am going through hard times it is difficult for me to see God’s faithfulness. Sometimes, in the fog of hurt and pain, I have to hold onto the truth of the scripture by making a choice to believe He is there. There are many promises of God’s faithfulness to us. Here are a few, add some of your favorite ones.

  • “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
  • “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.” Ps. 46:1
  • “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not fear for You are with me.” Ps. 23:4

Look for Faithfulness
Sometimes the stress and difficulties of life obscure God’s faithfulness to me. It is easy for me to recall the most wondrous act of God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promise to send His Son to save us and to draw us into His presence.

I can trace this persistent faithfulness of God through the Old Testament and New Testament and into my life today.  But seeing His faithfulness as I walk through the events and relationships of my daily life takes an intentional focus.

The other day I was struggling with being hurt by a relationship that I have. Even after various steps of reconciliation, difficulties remained. I began to focus on the hurt, my thoughts produced fear and lack of peace and trust in God.

I began to look for God’s faithfulness to me in this.  I prayed for God to comfort me, to renew my thinking and faith about how He was feeling about me. Later that day I was listening to a spiritual song and it was like God himself encouraging me, reminding me of His grace and love for me.

Also, later that day I received an email from the person who is mediating this difficulty. In this email she communicated her love and acceptance for me. These were glimpses of God’s faithfulness to me.

Be intentional about seeing God’s faithfulness in your life.

  • Pray and ask God to show you, to open your eyes to see His faithfulness and open your ears to hear it.
  • Find a scripture that speaks God’s faithfulness to you. Read it as you ask God to help you see how it connects to you.
  • Make a mental picture of you in this faithfulness scripture. Mine is Ps. 23:4. In that picture I see myself a lamb walking through a shadowy valley, but I am at the side of the Good Shepherd, leaning into His leg. He has His staff in His right hand and every now and then He puts His hand on my head or back to reassure me that He is there.
  • Take time to think about all the ways God has shown His faithfulness to you.
  • Write them down, and then thank God for each one.

Near Me, With Me, In Me

The Scriptures are like a magnifying glass.  They focus my sight and enlarge my understanding of God. In so doing, they draw me into closer, deeper intimacy with God. To develop intimacy with God we must know and understand truths about God. These truths reveal God’s character and heart towards us. They strengthen our faith and draw us deeper in a trusting relationship with God.  In addition, they provide us with reasons to genuinely praise God, as the psalmist states.

Psalm 75:1 reveals and magnifies the truth that God is near to us,

  • “We praise you, God, we praise you, for your Name is near; people tell of your wonderful deeds.”

The phrase “your Name is near” means that God is near to us. God’s name(s) are very important because they represent who God is. For example, in Exodus 3:14 God reveals that His Name is Yahweh – I AM WHO I AM. That term means God is self-existing and is the source of all life and existence.  God Is.

When the psalmist writes that “the Name of God is near,” he means Yahweh, the “I AM”- the source of all existence is near to us. It is reassuring to know that the “Life giving God” is near me.  This truth has given me courage and comfort as I walk through the various challenges and trials of life.

In Joshua 22: 22a some of the Israelites call God by the name LORD (Yahweh) and then they pair that name with Elohim which means “the Mighty One.”

  • “The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! The LORD, the Mighty One, is God!” Josh.22:22a

So, in Psalm 75:1 when the psalmist says “for Your Name is near,” he is saying, “God the Mighty One,” is near to me and to you.

I am encouraged to know that God, the Mighty One who has all power and strength is near me.  When I am feeling weak, vulnerable, frustrated and overwhelmed with life; knowing that I can turn to “the Mighty One” for help gives me relief. He is by my side. I am not alone.

We could go through the list of the names for God and get the same reassurance in faith as with these two examples, that the God, who is the definition of all His Names, is near to us.

In Other Words
The scriptures provide many ways of conveying this truth that God is near; that He is a personal God involved in our life.  God is not just a distant power, but rather, He is a God who seeks to be close to us all the time and most especially in our times of need.

Here are some of the ways the Spirit confirms this truth.

  • Psalm 34:18 – The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
  • Psalm 145:18 – The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.
  • Psalm 119:151 – You are near, O LORD, and all Your commandments are truth.
  • Psalm 16:8- I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
  • Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in times of trouble.
  • Psalm 73:28 – But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.

Psalm 119:7-10 poetically expresses this continual nearness and presence of God who acts on my behalf.

  • “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”

Hard to Believe
When I am hurting, feeling confused by the difficulties of life, or betrayed by my own contrary nature which often seems to default to thinking, saying and doing things I don’t really want to,  I can struggle with believing God is near, or that God even wants me to be near Him.

This thinking is flawed and not based on truth.  God wants to be near us, He wants to have a deep personal friendship with us. The scriptures reassure us of this truth.

In James 4:8a we read, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” So, it is not a matter of whether God wants to be near me, but whether I am choosing to come near to Him, and whether I am making moves towards Him in faith.

In Ephesians 1: 4 and 2:13, we read how God brings all men near to Him through the blood of Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles: “ For He chose us (meaning Israel) in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love, He preplanned for us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will. . . 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you (all Gentile believers) who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.”

God’s desire for us to be near Him, in a very personal relationship with Him, was not a mere “good idea,” but it became reality in sending Jesus to destroy the barrier of sin between God and us so we could be near God.

This truth is written for us in Colossians 1:21-22, ” Once you were alienated from God (separated from Him) and you were enemies in your mind because of your evil behavior, but now He has reconciled you (brought you near) by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight…”.

There’s More – God is in Us!
God is so “near” that He is in us who believe and were baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27). The scripture speaks this truth in many forms. At times, when I am lost in my “self,” I need to be reminded of this truth. Here are a few encouraging passages for study and meditation.

  • “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16
  • “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Col. 1:27
  • “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him/her.” John 14:23
  • “What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.” 1 Corinthians 2:12

 Let This Truth Draw You
This truth that God wants to be near us and has made a way for us to be near Him, draws me to desire to develop intimacy with God.  It emboldens me to trust in Him. This truth increases my esteem and value of God. His desire to be near me shows me that I am valued by Him. This fills me with a sense of security and acceptance, and desire to take time to be deep with Him.

  • Meditate on this truth, that God is near to you. Consider these questions:
    What does this truth that God is near me and in me mean to my faith and my life?
  • Have I been living in the presence of God?
  • What will I do today to draw near to God?
  • Take some time to give praise and thanks to God for choosing to be close to you.

Remember, Recount, Revived!

When I was growing up there was a boy in my class in elementary school who stuttered. His name was Johnny. His stuttering was to such a degree that he rarely was able to express his thoughts, ideas and feelings. His frustration was palpable, you could see it and feel it in the air. I see Johnny’s face to this day, the frustration, the sadness  and shame that he could not share his ideas and his heart with us. I wish I could have helped him.

In my quest to learn how to magnify God and to praise Him, I can experience a similar frustration as Johnny did. I stutter to magnify God – to make Him big; to tell of Him in a way that brings His value and His glory to light.

What kinds of words do we use that are capable of showing how great and wonderful God is? What can I say that can enlarge God to others in such  a way that they see His nature, His power and His love in a very real way?

I was reading in Psalm 66 the other day and I realized that God actually tells us how to do this. In Psalm 66:3, the Spirit says: “Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! How great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.”

The Spirit is telling us what to say in order to magnify God to others, and what to say as we praise God in our private and public worship.

I could not help Johnny in elementary school to express himself, but today through the word of God, the Spirit helps me express praise to God and magnify Him.

Say It! Again!
When I recount or re-tell the awesome deeds of God, I am magnifying Him to others and praising Him. This thought is presented over and over again in the scriptures. Here are a few references to this way of magnifying God.

  • “Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They tell of the power of your awesome works— and I will proclaim your great deeds.” Psalm 145:4-6
    (We magnify God to our children by recounting His wonderful deeds, in so doing they know God and learn to trust Him).
  • “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.” Psalm 107:21
  • I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High

What are the wonderful deeds of God?
They are many, we can’t recount them all. We do not know them all. But when you are meditating on the wonderful deeds of God think about what is written in the Word. Think of how he planned, even before the creation of the world, to save us through the redemptive work of His Son, Jesus, (Ephesians 1:4-7)

Think about how God created the world out of nothing, just from the power of His thoughts and words. (Genesis 1-2; Hebrews 11:3)

Think about the wonderful deeds God performed to deliver Israel from slavery in Egypt, and to deeds God performed to establish His King, our Messiah in this world.

Think of the wonderful deeds Jesus did that reveal the character and heart of God. Think of how Jesus gave sight to the blind; showed compassion and healed the lepers; straightened crooked limbs; gave life to withered hands; healed the body and the souls by forgiving sins; raised the dead, and many more.

We cannot magnify God to others, or worship and praise Him without recounting His wondrous deeds, because God is these deeds.

Remembering + Recounting = Revival
Recounting the wondrous deeds of God is a way we praise God, but in so doing it also can revive our faith in Him and restore in our hearts a sense of awe for God.

This idea of recounting and reviving is described very specifically in Psalm 77. The psalmist is  experiencing hard times. He talks  about groaning, sleepless nights, and an inability to express his struggle in words.

In his personal agony he questions God’s love and care of him. He accuses God of rejecting  and forgetting him, Psalm 77:7-8. He doubts God’s love for him, and questions if there ever was love from God for him, Psalm 77:8. He feels that he cannot trust God’s promises and wonders if God has any sense of compassion for him, Ps. 77:8b-9.

I have felt some of those things at times; forgotten and pushed aside by God, and questioned God’s trustworthiness. The psalmist searches his memory and what he knows of God. As he does this he reviews the wondrous deeds of God.

So, he remembers and recounts the wondrous deeds of God, and as he does his faith is revived and he concludes:

“ I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds. Your ways, God, are holy. What God is as great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. “ Psalm 77:11-14

Remembering and recounting or re-telling the wondrous deeds of God, revives my faith!

God’s Ultimate Wondrous Deed
We may never be able to recount all the wondrous deeds of God, because we do not know all of them. However, the greatest of the wondrous deeds has been revealed to us and that is God was sending His Son into this world in the form of a man to become the ultimate sin offering to atone for our sins that we might come into God’s presence, into a right relationship with God. And, that through His Spirit, God would live inside of us. Let’s read a little about this wondrous deed.

  • “… all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.” Romans 3:24-25a
  • “Brothers and sisters, because of the blood of Jesus we can now confidently go into the holy place (the presence of God).” Hebrews 10:19 (GWT)
  • “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Cor. 3:18

This short article cannot adequately express the wondrous deeds of God, so let’s end with this prayer.

Father God, teach us about you, how magnificent and wonderful you are. Teach us how to magnify you to others by knowing and  recounting your wondrous deeds. Help us to see and understand the wondrous salvation you provided for us through the atoning blood of Jesus, through his resurrection; and the breathtaking truth that Your Spirit lives in us and transforms us to be like you.

      “Magnify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together.” Psalm 34:3

Just One

Just One
Seed pod explosionSeed pod explosions set off chain reactions of growth. I watched a slow motion video of this once and it was breathtaking. The pod explodes, seeds fly everywhere. Seeds hit other pods and cause them to explode. Keep in mind that just one flying seed has the potential to create a new plant, with new pods and more seed. Just one seed has amazing life and growth potential.
(Photo credit: ifioridelbene.com)

Just one verse in the Bible can explode with truths about God! The other day I read Psalm 4, verse one, and it produced an explosion of truth seeds in my mind. These truth seeds encourage my trust in God, and deepen my relationship with Him.

Faith Building Truth Seeds
Psalm 4:1 is loaded with truths to produce life giving/life enriching faith.
“Answer me when I call O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.” (ESV)

Seed 1: Speaking to God with Force
The term “answer me” in Hebrew is in the imperative mood, so the psalmist is giving a command to God.

This verb in the imperative mood reveals how intimate I can be with God. When I am in need, I can approach God with confident strength, boldly telling God to “hear my prayer and answer me.”

Through my faith in Jesus, I am brought into a personal relationship with God. There are times to revere God with praise and thanksgiving, and times I can be open and boldly demand his help. It is comforting to know that I can express my desperation in such a real and raw way and still be accepted by God.

Seed 2: God of My Righteousness
The psalmist through the inspiration of the Spirit refers to God as “the God of my righteousness.” This is a truth expressing who God is and who the source of my righteousness is. I can only approach God with an “imperative” when I understand that my righteous standing with God is his and is gifted to me.

God gifts me His “righteous” status through the redemptive work of Jesus, and therefore I am  able to approach God. Scripture bears witness to this.

  • God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Cor. 5:21
  • And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. Romans 3:22
  • It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30

This “seed truth” that God is the God of my righteousness gives me security. My relationship with God is anchored in Jesus, the Son of God. It doesn’t depend on my up and down feelings or my up and down performance.

Knowing that Jesus is my righteousness makes me able to cry out “answer me. O God” even when I have messed up and don’t measure up.

Seed 3: God Gives Relief from Distress
Relief and distress in this verse are opposites.

  • In Hebrew the term for relief means “to expand; to provide a large space.”
  • The word for “distress” means “a narrow, tight place; pressed down.” This is similar to expressions we use when hard pressed like: “between a rock and a hard place,” or, “the walls are pressing in.”

Distress referring to those tight and pressing circumstances, come in many forms; inner struggles to trust God; frustrations with family members, friends, people; tasks at work; physical health challenges; failures; lost dreams, and so on.

The psalmist states that God has given him relief from his distress. There are many accounts in the Bible that describe what such relief looks like.

Psalm 23 provides a visual of this truth. God, our Shepherd, brings us into green pastures, leads us by quiet waters, restores our soul, provides safety in the dark/tight places, comforts us and follows us with His goodness and mercy.

Again, we see this truth in Psalm  18:19, “He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.”

The truth that God relieves my distress gives me hope! God is going to bring me out from under the oppressive weight of my distress to a spacious place of inner peace.

Seed 4: God Listens to Us with Grace
The psalmist asks God to hear his prayer with ears of grace. The word “hear” in this verse means “to listen carefully.” God listens with attention and with the intent to help us.

Isaiah 65: 24 attests to this truth: “Before they call, I will answer, while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” Even though Isaiah is referring to Israel, this passage reveals a truth about the character of God, which is His readiness to hear us when we turn to Him in faith.

Psalm 34:15 states this truth, “ The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry.” The apostle Peter may have been thinking of this very Psalm when he speaks this truth in 1 Peter 3:12a, “ For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer…”

It is reassuring to know that God hears my prayers with attention, a readiness to listen, and intention to act.

Truth Feeds Faith
The Word of God is amazing. The Spirit uses the Word to bring us into a deep, intimate, knowledge of God.

Studying and meditating on just one verse can reveal many truths that bring life to our faith and  deepen our heart connection to God.

I encourage you to read verse by verse, word by word and ask God to show you wonderful things in His Word.

           “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your Word.” Psalm 119:18

The Value in You

Albert Einstein is quoted as saying, “Try not to become a man of success, but rather become a man/woman of value.”

Being a person of value is something we all seek at some level. Unlike Einstein I do not believe that I can create my own value, although that is something each one of us has endeavored to do.

God’s Truths Reveal Our Value
As a believer in God, I am finding that the value I have comes from my connection with God. In fact, my identity and  my value come from God “in me.” (See: Colossians 1:27)

I have not always known this past the intellectual level. In the past I have tried to create my own value through attaining levels of education; seeking titles and positions; and pursuing relationships /associations and things that make me feel valuable. I found that much of my value was dependent on other people’s system of valuation. I can still fall into this thinking from time to time.

As I walk with God and take in the truths of the scriptures, I see that God gives me and you true and lasting value by what He brings into us. 

God’s Love in You
The other day I was reading John 17:26 which is a part of the prayer Jesus prayed for his followers. In that prayer Jesus states that he has made God known to them so that God’s love will be “in them,” and so that Jesus, himself, will be “in them.” This same truth is found in Romans 5: 5.

  • “I have made You known to them, and will continue to make You known in order that the love You have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” John 17:26
  • “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.” Romans 5:5

The scriptures tell us that God is love. Jesus is praying that as we know God, His love will be in us. Wow, talk about value. God loves me, and his love lives in me.

It is an astounding truth, even though I do not always feel God’s love or act like his love is in me. Nevertheless, that lack of feeling or understanding does not negate the truth of God’s love being in me. God’s love in me is my value!

God’s Glory in You
Again, in the prayer of Jesus that is recorded in John 17, we see a truth about the amazing value God places in us. In this prayer Jesus refers to God’s glory being in us.

  • “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and You in Me—that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me”
    John 17:22-23

Let’s do a side note here to help us understand God’s glory; God’s glory in us, and subsequently our value and worth, because of God.  In John 17 the Greek word for glory is “doxa,” which implies God’s intrinsic worth or value.  A related word for glory in the Old Testament means “weighty” implying value. So, according to John 17:22, God’s glory is in us. And, according to 2 Cor. 3:18, the Spirit is transforming us into the image of Jesus in increments of increasing glory. It is encouraging and uplifting to know God is the agent of change and of my value.

We see the same truth in Romans 8:29-30, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”

The glory of God is in the believer through Jesus Christ being in the believer. The concept of the “glory of God” is complex and has several meanings, but in basic terms, in this verse, it refers to  the divine nature. The divine nature of God is in us through Jesus in us.

2 Peter 1: 3-4 further explains this glory in us.

  • “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

In John 1:12-13, Jesus reveals that through our faith in Him we become true children of God, born of God. God’s spiritual DNA, so to speak, is in us, and as it unfolds in my life I am participating in God’s divine nature.

On my worst day when I am feeling like a total failure, with no splendor and very little value I turn to this truth. The truth of “God’s glory in me” contradicts that feeling. That is value!

God’s Light in You
God places His Light in us. This truth is revealed in 2 Corinthians 4:6

  • “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

This verse connects with those written above and solidifies the concept of God’s glory, God’s value being in us through Jesus in us. Light is a beautiful thing; without it our lives would be very challenging

The truth that God’s light is in me is astounding. I cannot even say I really understand it. But on those days when my thinking and vision of myself is dimmed by shadowy accusations, guilt or misperceptions, I am grateful that God’s light leads me, removes the darkness and illuminates truth. I hold on to that truth.

Reflections
There is much to say about the value God places in us through Jesus and His Spirit.
The scriptures shared in this post are rich with truth and can provide hours of meditation, prayer and deeper study.

What I love about these truths is that I don’t have to construct or conjure up my own value. I don’t have to draw attention to myself or my achievements to feel valued. I don’t have to meet the ever-changing standards and expectations of people in order to have value.

Even on my best day, I cannot make my own value. Trying to construct my own meaning and value is wearisome. It is chasing after the wind. God loves me and puts true value in me.

I encourage you to meditate on the truth about God in you and think on these questions:
       – How does knowing this truth about God’s value in you and of you draw you closer to God?
       – How does knowing this truth change your view of yourself?
       – How might this truth impact your relationships and pursuits in life?