Humility, Lies, and Direction

How does a man stay strong yet maintain a soft pliable, humble, and responsive heart?

Man’s heart begins as unresponsive…looking at the garden, he tries to remain ignorant of the trouble around him. His first sin was to act on the belief that God was a liar…creating within him a prideful heart; a heart that believes that he knows what is best for himself.

This leads me to the question:
Did Adam and Eve have the Holy Spirit within them?
If not, this brings great reassurance that God had a greater plan in mind for this human race.
But if so, their decision to live not under the Spirit’s influence is exactly the same decision which I can make this day.

Regardless, the only way that I (in this current age) may live a humble life is under the direction and authority of the Holy Spirit. God does not lie, His words are true, He is a Holy God…and I need His help in order to maintain this heart He has given me.

The gifts of this good God are humble, they are responsive, soft and pliable, yet strong.
Such good things are those that God has given!

Yet equipped

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.
– Phillippians 3:12

I am reminded of the passage in Song of Solomon:

“My beloved is mine, and I am his.”

Having reached a good level and advanced maturity, Paul is aware more and more of his “immaturity” or imperfection. He is aware and open about the nature of his heart, yet he presses forward taking one step after the next. In a race, there is much ground to be covered; understanding where you are supposed to be is important to the racer, and the knowledge of placement is balanced with the mindset of completion…of attainment. What a runner races for is equally important as where a runner finds themselves.

I believe this is the balance between faith and works. The call of God is the finish line; it is the call of Christ himself, and a calling to himself! It is “my beloved is mine.” This mindset is what begins our race and what finishes it. This call is balanced with our footwork, our actions, our works, our response to the call of God. It is a good and healthy practice to consistently check in with our progression; are we on track…off track? The great secret to this race is knowing that our coach has taught us well; He has taught us, and equipped us with the techniques to finish well.

So also this is a plea to make this race my own, to make it personal. Knowing my weaknesses and my strengths, all the while utilizing the Spirit to finish in good fashion. It is in His Spirit where I find my strength and in my weakness where I find His strength. My race might not look like another’s and pacing might differ between other’s; and while some race in cars, and I in a boat race, ultimately, I am always equipped for the race I have been placed in…the way that I experience God, the way I make Him my own, and the way I find myself in Him is unique…yet equipped.

What makes a man?

When David’s time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’
– 1 Kings 2:1-4

What makes a man? David explains that which God had shared with him: a man is attentive, a man walks in faithfulness, a man gives his all to God. This I believe is the strength that man is offered. He is given awareness, he is given the capacity for faithful action, he is given a heart and a soul…each facet given him that he may also give.

Smooth Sailing

For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may terry for the night but joy comes in the morning.

As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.” By your favor, O Lord, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed.
– Psalms 30:5-7

When life goes well it becomes easy to forget the Lord. “Smooth sailing” as some call it. The waters are calm and life continues business as usual…not taking notice that favor has slept below the deck. Then the storm comes, and we realize how small we are, how little control we have. We call in desperation to awaken favor that he may take control and captain our vessel through the torrent.

Must I forget my God when life goes well? May the Lord pilot my person even when things are good. May my God take control and lead my footsteps.

Father, it is not within myself to direct my steps. Lead me. Take me where you want me to be.
Amen

Watchmen: Intercession & Instruction

Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and right way. Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.
– 1 Samuel 12:23-25

ESV notes:
Praying (Intercession) and instruction are two of Samuel’s major roles as the prophet of the Lord, even after the inauguration of kingship.

From now on, Samuel is no longer the Judge of all Israel: the age of kingship has begun. But this is neither a retirement ceremony for Samuel, nor his last public address; as the prophet who gives the word of God to the king and people of Israel, his authority remains powerful, and he still has one more king to anoint (the shepherd David).

Despite Israel’s turn to man as king (instead of God as King), an evil sin, Samuel still plays his role as intercessor for his people. If Samuel were to choose to do otherwise, this would incur sin upon his own personal life…for this was his purpose, for prayer and for instruction as “the prophet”.

How sobering it is that this prophet’s prayers can be overturned because of the choices made by a people. No security within themselves, no security within their king, nor the prayers of this righteous man can save them from their own destruction. By choosing to fear their own strengths, by choosing to serve self, by choosing unfaithfulness, a people and their king will be swept away.

“Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf”
– Proverbs 11:28

In the midst of transition or unexpected turning of events, it remains critical to live out the purpose that is created within us. It is a call to walk the good and right path that is set before us. May that I not cease to be the man that I was created to be. Despite my surroundings or the actions of others, I choose to live in boldness.

Lord my hope is in you, reveal the good and right path that you have placed before me. Help me by your Spirit to do all that you have purposed for me.
Amen

North Shore Adventure in Solitude 1/26/13

Well Lord, here I am, ready to hear your voice. Would you unblock my deaf ears…open my heart to hear you fully and not in part. I ask for great discernment and understanding; I ask that I may know where to step forward from this place.

“Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of The Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
– Exodus 14:13-14

The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a man of war; The Lord is his name.
– Exodus 15:2-3

You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.
– Exodus 15:13

This is The Lord God; in his strength he causes war against those opposed to his redeemed, yet also in his strength he guides a nation to safety.
When reading this evening I came across the passage, “which he will work for you today,” in which my dyslexia translated as: ‘which (we) will work for you today’…now this would have made sense for me…after all, Moses was speaking to the people…it was Moses raising his staff. I would have gone on reading thinking that this verse revealed some great partnership with God.
However…
I have been given a kind of “spider sense” when my brain is playing tricks on me. By rereading the passage a couple times over, the true words would reveal themselves to me. It is “He” not (we). This point is further driven home when God says, “you have only to be silent.” There is nothing that this people can do to save their skin but to obey the words of the Lord…to move forward…to stay silent.

So how does this apply to me? I am no longer a slave to sin…and I know my God fights for me. This day when speaking with The Lord, I felt strongly the words “season of healing” and the inner response, or rather question within asking,’how to walk forward from here?’

To conclude this time of solitude I will choose to remain silent. No need to speak. No urgency to let my voice be heard…I will forward in silence before my God and his will shall be made known.

Fathe help me to embrace a life of silence before you…in its appropriate season. Would you guide me in your strength, be present with me in this walk of healing. I trust your goodness even in the darkness, may your light lead the way. Contend for me great man of war!
Amen

The desire for salvation

O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices,
And in your salvation how greatly he exults!
You have given him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips.
Selah

– Psalms 21:1-2

This psalm is the result of David’s declaration in praise to God. Notably, this is “King David,” not the lost songs of a shepherd boy…yet, this heart before God remains unchanged by time. This heart knows where to direct its praise, it’s adoration…to the King of kings.

Father help me to beleive in your unfailing love. Help me to know you have good things planned for me…that you are for me and not against me. That you care about the desires of my heart, that you will not withhold my request. Help me to know in my heart that you are good.
Amen

To forget

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. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:12-14

Paul a mature believer and personal “hero of the faith”, finds himself as not perfect; However, by faith he is able to take part in the love of God because of the work of Christ. He says he does one thing: to forget. To forget that which was achieved in vein, to forget the value that sin once held. Instead he pushes forward…building his trust in Christ, and beginning to know who he is.

My thoughts led me this morning to Paul’s call, to check our faith and find it to be true. My faith is not to be found within my own strength or my achievements of the past. My faith calls me to forget those sinful things and all their false worth. My faith calls me to rely, to ask for, to realize the need for the strength found in the Spirit of God. This day I know God as a helper, a counsellor and strength giver.

Thank you Lord, for I can rely on you…your gentle voice leading me towards nights of peace. Help me to forget that which was lost and vein…help me to continually look for your strength.
Amen

Sovereignty: power authority & favor

Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendor. Pour out the overflowings of your anger, and look on everyone who is proud and abase him. Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low and tread down the wicked where they stand.

Hide them all in the dust together;
Bind their faces in the world below.

Then I will also aknowlege to you that your own right hand can save you.
– Job 40:10-14

This verse makes me tremble inside…
The graphic nature of this scripture is weighty and holds warnings against those who live in integrity and wisdom. Justice, Wisdom, and ultimately Salvation, is held in the hands of The Lord…which we know, but to say we understand Justice is folly, to understand even the core nature of Wisdom is a fools errand, and to know the price of Salvation is truly unfathomable.

The right hand signifies power, authority, and favor.

To believe in ones heart that by his own strength that he may attain salvation, it is foolishness…Job was faithful, full of integrity and righteousness but even for his works to attempt their claim at his redemption would vastly miss the mark.

To beleive in ones heart that by his own authority that he may assess God’s wisdom and grand plan is again, foolishness…Job was not able even in his grand wisdom to understand what The Lord has in mind.

To beleive that by ones own favor that they may judge or bring justice to their existence is also foolishness…Job has no power before God or man to rectify or even explain the reality of his current situation.

Isaiah 55:8,9 says:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares The Lord.
For as the heavens are higher then the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

Sometimes I would much rather have God love me because of my good works…I would much rather have gained His favor out of my own efforts. This is brokenness…it holds no weight to the price that Christ paid for me. This line of action relies on a dead faith rather than one which has already made me righteous; one that has made me favorable, whole, holy, and redeemed before God. I am the righteousness of Christ! I am holy. I am made whole. I am favorable. I am who I am. By God’s grace I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain.

Lord I thank You for redeeming me. I thank You for the grace You have given. That through Your mercy I am not held to my own standards of righteousness. Thank You for Your favor…Your hand to bring justice. Thank You for Your authoritative wisdom which You give so freely to those who ask. Thank You for Your strength, Your right hand to save me from myself.
Amen

The Man of War: Feast and Battle

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. – John 4:34

The nourishment of work; one becomes satisfied in the completion of Gods will.

My satisfaction is found when I complete the work that the Father has set before me. A warrior can receive the greatest comfort and spoils only after fighting the war. Training is over, though lessons will continue to be learned…but now arises the season of the warrior. The man raised into the image of the God of war, shaped to fight, created to battle by the heavenly orders given him. This is my food; my battles are what fuel the need to strive, to fight, to exist, and to find that which is worth fighting for.

Lord give me your Holy orders. Show me what I’m fighting for. Strengthen me as a warrior, created in your image “Dread Champion”. Amen