Persistence

I know I haven’t written in a very long time, but I guess now is as good of a time as any. I am going to try to do this more often.

I am so thankful for many of the Lord’s qualities: faithfulness, authenticity, loving, compassionate. I am sure that I could keep going, but I think you get the point. However, I think on of the Lord’s qualities that I am most thankful for is persistence. I don’t think that people discuss the Lord’ persistence as much as many of His other qualities. And that may be in part because it flows out of many of his other qualities (i.e. loving, patient). However, I think we often take it for granted.

How often do we turn from the Lord? How often do we go do our own thing, only to realize when things get bad that we need to run back to the Him for shelter? Amazingly, He is always there, and always will be there. And I think that is one of the most important characteristics of the Lord. Even though we continually turn our backs on Him and walk away, He will never stop pursuing us. And thank the Lord for that.

Persist is defined as “to hold firmly and steadfastly to a purpose, state or undertaking despite obstacles, warnings, or setbacks.” That definition is exactly the way the Lord pursues intimacy with us. Despite obstacles, warnings, and setbacks, He holds firmly and steadfastly to the pursuit of a relationship with his children. Examples of this quality can be found throughout the Bible. However, we often have to look a little closer.

In Luke 15, Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep, and how he will leave the ninety-nine and go after the one that is lost until he finds it. The amazing thing about that is, he will continue to go after that lost sheep no matter how many times it wanders off, because “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” This sentiment is echoed in Ezekiel 34:12 where it says, “As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.” You’d think the Lord would eventually get tired of seeking out this lost sheep, yet he is the Master of Persistence.

Every one of us has heard the verse, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20. First of all, I love that verse. It is so true of our relationship with the Lord. He has done all the work; we just have to open the door. However, I think one thing continually gets overlooked in that verse. He’s not going to stop knocking. No matter how many times you hear the knock, and hear his voice call and ignore it because you’ve got something else you’re more concerned with, he’s still going to be there knocking, waiting for you to open the door, to embrace the life and relationship He has for you. If someone we loved continually turned our back on us, the way we turned out back on Him, we would give up. Yet, He continues to pursue us, despite obstacles, warnings, and setbacks, because He’s persistent.

Thank you Lord for never giving up on me.

His Strenght, Not Mine

This will kind of go along with the last post.

I think a lot of times people don't feel like they can be used by God. Either they feel like they just aren't good enough, aren't spiritual enough, don't speak well enough, don't know the Bible well enough, etc. The funny thing is that people lose sight of the fact that God doesn't expect us to be anything more than we are, he meets us right where we are no matter how good, bad, or indifferent we are. The Bible is filled with people that weren't the best, but that allowed themselves to be used and embraced the Lord despite their faults and insecurities. And just by allowing themselves to be used, they changed the world.

Moses
"Come, I will send you to Pharoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel out of Egypt." But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" Exodus 3:10-11

But Moses said to the Lord, "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue." Then the Lord said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak." Exodus 4:10-12

Paul
For I am the least of, the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I but the grace of God that is with me. 1 Corinthians 15:9-10

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:15-16

Funny that two of the most influential people in Christianity felt unworthy of the task they were called to and did not feel good enough, yet the Lord used them to literally change the world.

One of the main reasons that God can use people despite our faults is because in our weakness He is strong.

"My grace is sufficient for you, FOR MY POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ tehn, I am content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. FOR WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

It's those areas of our life that we struggle in that end up being our strengths because it's that area of our life that we know we must lean entirely on the Lord rather than trying to do it on our own. Therefore, it is his strength and not ours that matters.

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. 1 Corinthians 1:25


"You Are Here" by Needtobreathe

If You're an Ear, Be and Ear.

I think one of the biggest struggles for Christians, at least in my experience, is a spirit of comparison. You never feel good enough because so and so reads his Bible more. You never feel spiritual enough because another person has visions or speaks in tongues. Often times we tend to get caught up in what other peoples' spiritual lives are, rather than embracing the life the Lord has given us.

While it is true that friendships are one way the Lord works in our lives and builds us up, "as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" Proverbs 27:17, I think it is also a way the enemy discourages us in our walk. We want to try harder to be as spiritual or pray as much as (insert name). The problem is that striving isn't from the Lord and we end up failing because we are relying on ourselves to make our spiritual life into someone else's. And with failure, brings doubt, and doubt pushes us further from the Lord.

This was one of the things I experiences most when I was at the Ranch. Feeling overwhelmed and unworthy because I was surrounded by some of the most amazing people I had ever met. I kept wondering why God would put me in a place I was not ready to be in. (The answer to that is that God meets us where we are and not where we should be, but that's for a different day). That spirit of comparison is what kept me locked in my ways and prevented me from receiving the Lord like I could have if I would've just listened. I wasted a lot of time not feeling up to those around me. But the Lord finally got my attention and showed me that I was there for a reason.

One of the things I learned about myself at the Ranch, was that even though I didn't feel important or feel like I had a lot to offer, the Lord had prepared me my whole life to do something special out there. It was all about stepping into that role and being the part of the body I was made to be. And I can look back now and know the Lord did an amazing work in me, and more importantly through me.

1 Corinthians 12 talks about the spirit of comparison that so easily entangles us all.

Each one of us serve an important role in the body, one that only we can serve. While another man may be out in the mission field healing the blind and feeding the poor, I may be back here sending him money, praying for him, and helping those struggling all around me. Our role is just as important as anyone else's, because without us the body cannot function the way the Lord intended. Without us, the body is minus a key component.

For the body does not consist of one member but of many....And if the ear should say; "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? 14-17

We shouldn't be ashamed of our role, even if it isn't glamorous and even if we can't get accolades for it. If we wanted glory or honor we wouldn't have committed our lives to serving the Lord. We are exactly what the Lord made us to be, and fill the exact role that we were intended. In fact Corinthians tells us that God chose us to fill that role.

But as it is God arranged the members in the body each one of them, as he chose. 18

So don't let yourself feel like you aren't good enough because you aren't in a 3rd world country, or because you aren't going into the ministry, or even because you don't pray as much as someone else or read the Bible as much. Each persons spiritual life is about their own relationship with the Lord. This life is not about winning spiritual awards or building yourself up to be this super Christian. It's about serving the Lord, following his perfect will for our lives, and being exactly who he intended us to be so that we may fulfill our role within the body. We are all in this together.

If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 26

We need to quit comparing ourselves to everyone else and just step into the role the Lord has made for us. If you're meant to be a missionary in Africa, be a missionary in Africa. If you're meant to be a prayer warrior, then be that. If you're an ear, then be an ear and quit wishing you were something else. We are exactly who God needs us to be.


"Love Song" by Jason Morant

Guard Your Heart?

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23

I have read this verse so many times throughout my life, but for some reason tonight it struck a different chord in my spirit.

I can't help but see a parallel to the words of Jesus in John 7:38.
"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"

Throughout our lives we have been told to guard our heart. But why? Why guard It? And why the heart above all else? The easy answer is the second part of the verse "for from it flow the springs of life." But I had never really thought about what that meant either.

Why our heart? Because it's the dwelling place of the Lord.
So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith... Ephesians 3:17

The heart is obviously the most important part of our body if it's the dwelling place of the Lord.

Also, living water, as referenced by Jesus in John 7, is a reference to the Holy Spirit. Thus, the "springs of life" are actually the works of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Therefore the heart is the place where the Holy Spirit speaks to us.
How important is the Holy Spirit in our lives? This is shown in John where Jesus tells the disciples that it is to their advantage that he go.
Why?
Because, "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come." John 16:13

So if you want to hear the voice of the Lord, then it's important that your heart is tuned in.

The problem is, that your heart is a part of your flesh. And as pointed out in Romans,
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh... Romans 7:18

The heart is the part of your body where the Spirit and your flesh meet. The part of your body where flesh and spirit wage an internal war.

But if our heart is the dwelling place of the Lord, the place where the Holy Spirit speaks into our lives, and yet is also a part of our flesh, in which nothing good dwells, how do we make sure we hear the Lord clearly?

The answer, guard your heart.

As we die to ourselves,
"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23,
and we guard our hearts from the things of the flesh that would so easily take over,
there is more room for God to take control and to move in our lives.

More of Him and less of me.
He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30

So why guard your heart? Simple, "from it flow the springs of life."



"Who I Am Hates Who I've Been" by Relient K