Trust is not troubled

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. John 14:1

 

A troubled heart is unstable and fearful, but a trusting heart is steady and peaceful. Uncertain circumstances swirl around our soul seeking to suck it into a place of distrust. But, by faith we choose to remain on God’s glassy sea of trust rather than be tossed about on a raging river of unbelief. Every day we have a choice to let our heart be troubled or to let it be trusting. A life challenge can agitate us or grow/mature us. Trust changes exhausting unrest into life giving tranquility.

No doubt each disciple felt a flurry of emotions that pushed them to the edge of an anxiety. Jesus just exposed one of their own as an impostor. He instructed them in a standard of love that required their radical service and to lay down their life. Jesus rebuked Peter twice for his rash responses. He reminded them all that His death was imminent and they couldn’t go with Him. Thus, He reassures them by saying, “Trust,” “Trust God, trust Me.” Trust Me. I am trustworthy.

What competes with your trust in God? A sense of being overwhelmed by all that needs to get done? A money management mishap that could grow into a financial free fall? A relational conflict? Fear of losing your job? Fear of failure? Fear of the future? A health scare? A nagging frustration you can’t resolve in your mind? Anger issues? A need to forgive? Whatever rivals your rest in Christ, let go of its draining demands and let God take over. His peace guards our heart.

Trust in God through Jesus is much more than a cold intellectual exercise. It is a heart felt embrace of His presence, His promises and His power. Theism, or the belief in God, is an incomplete faith without trust in Christ as the Son of God. It's good to be a God fearer, but it is not enough without grace through faith and being a recipient of Jesus into our heart. A Spirit filled heart is a joy filled heart. Turmoil exits a heart when Jesus enters. So, trust and rejoice in His comfort and leading.

The freedom of forgiveness

At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. Matthew 18:26-27

 

God’s forgiveness gives us freedom. Freedom from paying our unpayable debt of sin. Freedom from the devil’s control. Freedom from evil’s allure. Freedom from hell. Freedom from guilt. Freedom from lying, cheating and stealing. Freedom from the faulty thinking. Freedom to forgive ourselves and freedom to forgive others. God forgives us to walk out of the jail cell of our pride: free to forgive. Christ forgives us, so we are free to forgive ourselves and  others.

Jesus describes two men in debt. The first debtor owed 500 lifetimes of salary to the king. He couldn’t possibly pay his debt, but was relieved when the king forgave what he owed. The second debtor, who was the slave of the first debtor, owed his master 100 days wages. Ironically, the first debtor unmercifully put his servant into prison for a small debt, compared to the massive amount he was just forgiven. Confined behind bars the second debtor was unable to pay, even if he wanted too. How could this unforgiving creditor be so callous, having just received such a magnanimous gift?

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

Having experienced the surpassing grace of God in our life through Christ’s forgiveness, our gratitude grows us in kindness and compassion. Indeed gratitude greases the skids of kindness and compassion, so forgiveness easily flows from our soul. Like a christened cruise ship slides steadily toward the water on lubricated rails, so our new life in Christ moves our soul forward to forgiveness on the grace covered rails of kindness and compassion. Forgiveness incubates in a heart of gratitude. If we don’t get over God’s mercy and forgiveness, it gets all over us. It frees us up!

Hallelujah, God’s forgiveness is a cycle of freedom. By grace through faith in Jesus our heavenly Father forgives us. We joyfully receive His forgiveness with a grateful heart. From our thankful heart flows kindness, compassion and mercy to forgive ourselves and to forgive others. Some who experience our ongoing forgivingness will seek forgiveness from God. Thus, Christ’s cycle of freedom in forgiveness perpetuates across the nations. We are free indeed to forgive as needed.

Does gratitude mark your attitude or do you take God’s grace for granted? Who needs your abundance of kindness and compassion? Your ongoing mercy and forgiveness toward others may be the only Jesus they see and experience. Release offenders from your mental and emotional prisons;  both of you will be set free to enjoy the fruits of forgiveness: peace, joy, laughter, smiles, affection, intimacy, security and fulfillment. In Christ, we have freedom in forgiveness

Loved to love

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34-35

 

God’s love is so superior to man’s love. The Lord’s love is perfect--man’s is imperfect. Christ’s love is unconditional--man’s love is conditional. The love of God is limitless--the love of man is limited. Divine love is diverse--human love is likeminded. Think of an earthly father whose love is admirable, but still our heavenly Father’s love far exceeds his worthy example. Our Lord lavishes His love on our life so we can lavishly love other lives.

We are loved by the Lord to love for the Lord. Indeed, we are called by Christ to love with a love not of this world. It is a love that can only be explained by an encounter with Almighty God. His transforming power upon a humble heart positions His disciple to love on His behalf. The parting words of our Savior defined a radical love language introducing the new nomenclature of how His disciples were to love. His command and promise faithfully lived is the best apologetic for faith.

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them” (1 John 4:16).

Furthermore, our sequence of service and love starts with our brothers and sisters in the faith. If we ignore or ‘shoot our wounded,’ we are unattractive to an unloved world. Those who already live a lowly standard have little interest in exchanging it for another lowly standard. However, when we esteem the Lord’s unconditional love for one another, we are attractive to the unsaved. Thus, a fellow believer caught in sin needs our loving restoration, not our harsh condemnation.

Moreover, our love for the Lord is evident when we do what we know to be true. Obedience to our loving heavenly Father draws other potential disciples into our Father’s forgiving arms of grace. I show my love for another child of God when I honor God. Like siblings whose love for each other grows as they honor their parents, so Christians who honor their heavenly Father grow in their love for one another. Yes, as we are loved--we become Christ’s channel to love like Him

Continual prayer

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NJKV

 

When we became followers of Jesus we were born into His spiritual ecosystem. The air of His environment is pure and cleansing. As faithful disciples we learn to use our spiritual lungs to breathe in the oxygen of God’s ongoing awareness. Our mindset focuses on His presence and power, not on fear or unseemly influences. Our heart surrenders in willful and joyful dependence on Christ. We pray without ceasing when our soul inhales the Spirit and exhales self.
 
Moreover, there is an openness that accompanies an attitude of prayer. We don’t have to prove a point or shift a conversation to blame someone else. Instead, we learn to pray in the middle of a contentious circumstance trusting the Holy Spirit to influence debates and align hearts around His will. Yes, prayer is the will of God, that reveals the will of God. We know without a doubt we traffic in the middle of the Lord’s will as we engage in prayer. Constant prayer is a joyful guide.

“Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2, Amplified Bible).

Not praying is like holding our breath; we deny spiritual oxygen to our thoughts. We become vulnerable to lies and deception. We smother our faith when we deny our soul the air of prayer. For example, someone tells us disturbing news related to their bad choices. In the moment, we pray and ask God for grace to love and support them during this very difficult time. We embrace them without embracing their foolishness and ask the Lord for His wisdom. A prayerful response during a heated discussion cools the conversation. Prayer in a crisis invites Christ’s calmness. If the only time we pray is when we are in trouble, then we are in trouble. Prayer needs exercise.

Furthermore, in everything we give thanks to the Lord with a posture of humble prayer. When our health fails, we thank Him for the life we’ve enjoyed so far. Whether God heals us or not we will be grateful for His goodness and boldly share the gospel of Christ. We pray without ceasing, as we are alert to the Spirit’s promptings to give. We see with spiritual eyes the gray haired man diligently cleaning tables at the food court. With a smile we give him a cash gift, and in broken English we hear "Thank you." Continual prayer engages opportunities to give

We not me

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27

 

There is a larger context to life than just living for self. A self-focused life is chronically frustrated and is unable to reach its full potential. Its demanding demeanor marginalizes wise counsel and only attracts insecure individuals. However, those who pray for what’s best for the whole become whole. Everyone is honored in an environment that values individual contributions. “We, not me” is the vocabulary of those who honor God and that honor flows to each other. 

Every disciple is stronger when they are connected to other followers. Isolation contributes to spiritual impotence, but community gives spiritual life and power, think about Jesus even had a team and they did ministry together. Encouragement and accountability are exalted in relationships that serve what’s best for the whole. A leader who serves the team sees other team members serve well. A man who serves his family experiences a family that serves each other. “We overcomes me” with unselfish service. Thus, by God’s grace, put to death the “me monster” and replace it with love for the Lord and people. “We, not me” is the motto of mature believers.

Judas effect

Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” John 13:26-27

 

A deceived mindset is a soul that flirts with spiritual death. It is from our soul that we first embrace hope or despair, truth or lies, faith or fear, security or insecurity, acceptance or rejection, love or hatred, God or Satan. A soul that gives up on God, gives in to the god of this world, the devil. Thus, a soul is at risk when it is preoccupied with vain imaginations that leaves out, even betrays the Lord. A soul that does not care about Christ is in need of serious soul care.
 
Judas, though familiar with matters of faith, decided that faith did not matter. His conflicted soul surrendered to short term selfish desire, rather than riding out the storm with righteous motives. He would learn the painful lesson that consequences last when the deeds are past. Jesus found him out, even before He was outed by His betrayer. The Lord Christ knew God’s bigger purpose was at work, so He let him go. Judas sacrificed his soul at the altar of Satan’s shenanigans.

“I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:4-5).

Moreover, a nation’s soul is at risk when Christ continues to be pushed out of the culture’s conversation. Tolerance for everything but the truth of Scripture will kill the soul of our country. If the ideals that once made America great are put to death, we will no longer be great, but a shell of what we used to be. The soul of a nation can avoid spiritual sacrifice by remaining loyal to the Lord. If our actions betray Jesus we lose God’s favor, but if we obey Jesus we gain God’s favor.

The good news is a soul who receives the love of their heavenly Father finds life. Life with purpose. Life with love. Life with joy. Life with peace. Jesus provides the best soul care. Our churches who rediscover their souls will flourish with the salvation of lost souls. Disciples will multiply, families will be fortified and God will be glorified. As we pour out our soul in praise to the Lord we are energized by eternal matters. A soul who hopes in God is made alive for Christ.

So much more

In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37

 

You are more than a sinner saved by grace. You are a saint who is no longer a slave to sin. You are more than an enemy of Satan's. You have overcome the enemy by the blood of Christ and the word of your testimony. You are more than a dad who helps around the house. You are the engaged father of your children who models your heavenly Father’s love. You are more than a mom who washes clothes and irons. You are a mother who instructs your peeps to love Jesus.

You are more than a coach or teacher. You are influencing the next generation to live out their faith in Jesus Christ. Your are more than a government official who solves problems. You serve your constituents by applying character and common sense to the laws of the land. You are more than an employee. You are a part of a work culture that influences your coworkers, vendors, customers and the community. You are more because the grace of God has made you more.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).

You are more than the problems of your past. You are a new person with a fresh faith in God, because in Christ old things pass away and all things become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). You are more than the result of poor decision making. You are a precious child of God who seeks the wisdom of her heavenly Father to apply the best solutions. You are more than the product of a dysfunctional home. You broke the chain of chaos when, by faith, Christ broke your chains of sin.

Others may try to define us with their well meaning ideas and expectations, but we rest in who God has created us to be. Circumstances may weigh heavy on our hearts, but we know in our hearts we are more than conquerors in Christ. When we remember whose we are, we trust Him where we are and where we are going. We take pride in being a soldier in the Lord’s army and we spiritually train like an athlete who competes for Christ. We are more, because by God’s grace we are more. Don’t settle for less than the Lord’s best. More of Him means more for Him

Walk the path

I [the angel of the Lord] have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. Numbers 22:32 b

 

The path you choose is the path you use. It may be a path of pride or a path of humility. The path may stimulate purity or impurity. It could be a path of wisdom or a path of foolishness. The path may be one of cooperation or a path of independence. Your path may be family friendly, or hostile to the health of your home. Watch the path of success as it can easily veer down the path of lost accountability. The path you choose is the path you use. So, be very wise about the choices you make. Make sure the path you traverse goes through God’s will. Your path is a picture of overlaid choices. One after another, your daily decisions carve out a well beaten path. But do not be deceived, every path leads somewhere.

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). Your current path is not insignificant. If it is a path of preparation, then prepare well. A well prepared path paves the way for opportunity. This is the path of patient preparation. The more you prepare the wider this path becomes. The less you prepare the more narrow it becomes. The path of preparation may seem long and onerous at times, but be patient.

Your faithfulness now will bolster your influence later. The path of preparation requires persevering patience. Travel this path with focused attention. Enjoy the ride, for these may be the simplest days of your life. The path of preparation is the strong foundation of any excellent and eternally significant endeavor.

Another path to walk wisely upon is the path of personal intimacy with God. It is easy to overlook this path because of familiarity or busyness. But without a worn out path to God, you will wear out. It is a path that requires discipline, but the fruit of your faith’s exercise will serve you throughout life. When you walk the path of intimacy with God, He fills you with His peace, security and hope. It is not a path of quick fixes, rather one of trust and endurance.

Traveling a path without God is like walking in the country on a moonless night or, running blindfolded through a city during the day. In either case there is a lot of activity, but it is filled with fear, confusion, misdirection and eventual hurt. Indeed, the path of God is not without pain or uncertainty. But as you travel on His path you are filled with His presence.

As you travel with God, be ever mindful of His guardrails of grace, love and law. They are there for your protection. They keep you from straying off His path of kingdom purpose. The worldly road most traveled is reckless compared to the less traveled path of heaven’s security. Choose daily the wise path of confession and consultation with your creator. The path of obedience to God leads to peace with God.

The seeking soul

Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ John 13:33 NASB

 

Our soul seeks a Savior, it longs for a relationship with the Lord. Our soul (mind, will and emotions) deeply desires peace of mind, assurance of doing God’s will/purpose and the joy of being unconditionally loved. At creation God breathed life into man and made him a living soul (see Genesis 2:7). 

Thus, we need an ongoing infusion of life from the author and giver of life or we live life in vain. We seek Christ for comfort in our pain and for power to overcome sin, death and the devil. Our soul seeks eternal outcomes.

Beloved Jesus knew the fragile faith of His disciples, so He prepared them for His imminent cross and resurrection. They could not come to Jesus in the parenthesis between His death and rising from the grave. However, once Christ came alive their souls were made alive. The Holy Spirit filled them with hope and holy boldness. Even in the moment of the disciples’ denial, Jesus did not deny them. He knew deep in their souls they wanted to see Him again. Seeking souls find God.

“Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God” (1 Chronicles 22:19).

So, how can our souls seek out the things of God? One way is to understand His ways and obey. Like migratory birds moving south for the winter, our saved souls instinctively gravitate toward the warmth of God’s love. If a soulless animal can expose itself to healthy environments, how much more should a human soul? The Holy Spirit is our spiritual sonar that desires to lead our every move. We set our coordinates on Christ and by faith we lock onto Him.

Have you sought the world’s stuff only to reach a disappointing destination? Indeed, we all seek something, but fulfillment is only found from faith in Jesus Christ. Seek God at church and enjoy His presence in praise and worship. Seek the Spirit in prayer, ask for wisdom and discernment and He will reveal the best course of action. Seek your heavenly Father and He will love and support you. Seek Christ for His resurrection power and He will embolden your obedience and grow your faith. Release your soul to seek the things of God and you will find Him faithful.

The word of the Lord

The word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you. 1 Peter 1:25

 

What does it mean to get a word from the Lord? It means that God, in His infinite wisdom, personalizes His principles for each of His children. The Bible is a love letter delivered to each disciple of Jesus for his or her unique situation and life. A word from the Lord gives hope in the face of discouragement, wisdom for understanding, and courage to confront injustice. The word of the Lord planted in the human heart are seeds of faith for the soul.

We are blessed when we seek counsel from the wise, but when we receive direction from God in His Word, we can rest secure. The Bible is the baseline for our beliefs and behavior. It is the first and the final say for faith-based Kingdom living. A day without scriptural intake for our spirit is like missing three meals for our body. God’s Word nourishes our soul, is a trailblazer for truth, and leads us into His very best for our life. His Holy Spirit brings to life the pages of His Word in prayer. Study to know the truth, then listen to apply the truth. Scripture gives stamina to our faith.

Beating temptation

Because He himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:18

 

Temptation illustrates our struggle to remain true to God and His will, or to take pleasure in doing life our way. “All Of Grace,” not “I Did It My Way” is a sample epitaph for a loyal disciple of Jesus. Like a faithful spouse who rebuffs the flirtatious overtures of a individual not their own, so we are a faithful bride of Christ when we reject the advances of sin’s attractiveness. It may feel good to our body and emotions to give in, but our soul knows better. It is the superior standard we obey.

Temptation is not a sin, but it can lead to sin. More than likely, as long as we are breathing we will be tempted. Thus, we are wise not to take pleasure in temptation for this is a slippery slope to sin. Why traffic near the edge of sin’s darkness, when we can travel on God’s brightly lit highway of love. The neon signs of sin flash with their dark backdrop promising fun, while leaving undisclosed the cost of capitulation to Christ-less living. Reckless risks lead to regret. Don’t say, ‘It’s just one time,’ or ‘No one will find out.’ Guilty feelings make good guardians.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin” (Hebrews 4:16).

Furthermore, the most effective deterrent to falling into temptation is falling more in love with Jesus. We want to be with Him, because we love Him. We want to please Him, because we love Him. We want to be admired by Him, because we love Him. We want to obey Him, because we love Him. We want to remain faithful to Him, because we love Him. We want to walk with Him and walk away from sin, because we love Him. Our mature and growing love for Jesus leads us away from temptation and into wise choices. Love desires not to disappoint the object of its affection.

So, how do we grow in our love for Christ? Similar to a growing marriage relationship, it takes intentionality. Intentional with our time, so we compare calendars weekly and schedule time to be together. Intentional with our emotions, so we develop skills to better understand each other. Intentional with our intellect, so we learn together. Read the gospels and enter into the story as one of the characters. What do you feel? Ask the Spirit to reveal what you need to know about Jesus. The more you get to know Him, the more you love Him. Temptation melts in fear, in the face of your love for God. When tempted--love for the Lord looks for and finds His way out.

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. 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 stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Gotta get these gains

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3:7-8

 

In God’s economy some of our greatest gains come from and with losses. Our family dynamic takes a loss at a wedding as we lose a son or daughter in marriage, yet we gain a daughter-in-love or son-in-love. We lose a corporate job, but gain an opportunity to influence a smaller enterprise for God’s Kingdom. We lose our health, but gain a realization of the brevity and importance of the life we have. We become much more intentional in matters of faith and eternity. We lose an opportunity because we lacked peace, but gain one that excites our imagination.

Beloved what have you lost that needs repair or replacement? If it’s your reputation, lean into the Lord to restore your character. As you walk with Christ in integrity you will gain a good name that is many times more valuable than gold. Maybe you made a hard decision that caused you to lose a long term relationship. You may have gained their respect and one day they may truly desire to know you at a deeper emotional level. God’s gains far exceed our losses.

Furthermore, the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord is our greatest gain. We clamor to see celebs, pastors and presidents, while all the while the King of Kings and Lord of Lords kindly waits to love us and spend time in fellowship with us. No need for us to gain access to God. He has given us the full privilege of being with Him and knowing Him anytime, anywhere. No secret service agents to overcome, because the blood of our Savior Jesus has already overcome. By faith we gain God.

What we give up to gain God are trinkets in His Kingdom. We give up the trinket of distrust and  gain trust. We give up the trinket of striving and gain our Savior’s safety, peace and security. We give up the trinket of people’s approval and gain our Father’s warm acceptance, security and compassion. The exchange rate of our culture’s currency offers us losses for our gains, but Christ’s currency gives us gains for our losses, His true riches. What we lose for the Lord is great gain, never to be lost.

God's plan

A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure. Proverbs 16:9, 

 

God places His plan in the heart and mind of man. Indeed, His divine desires are meant to manage the motivations of believers. We can be confident as we walk with Christ that He will fill our conscience with His will, and His course of action. Like a meandering river, we normally make our way through life not knowing for certain what’s around the next bend, but we keep believing in the goodness of God to guide us. We plan and trust God’s hand to point us in the right direction.

So, why plan if the Lord is sovereign, all knowing and all powerful? We plan, and in the process we hope to better understand God’s plan. It is an exercise of faith in our Lord to show us the next step and movement in His will and way. Planning is good stewardship and keeps us from presuming on God’s favor. In a similar way, an earthly father wants to support a son or daughter who seeks to steward their time with a vision for their life, so the Lord wants to resource a prayerful plan.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).

What in your life needs a plan? Perhaps you settle on a college major, even though you are still unsettled. Healthcare, financial management, relational care, career advancement and family goals all take time to think through and write out the first few next steps. Better to have an imperfect plan than to wait irresponsibly for a perfect plan. We plan the best we can and trust the Holy Spirit with what we don’t understand. Thankfully the Lord makes sure our unsure steps.
 
Furthermore, our Lord will direct our steps after we take the first step of faith. Like a child learning to walk we will stumble and fall, but our loving Father will pick us up and encourage us to continue on in His strength with His guidance through His Spirit. The Holy Spirit can better direct a life actively moving forward by faith, than one passively stuck in fear or apathy. We pray the Spirit reveals His plans while we adjust our plans to His. God can bless a mess, but normally He blesses a plan.

Down yet not out

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

 

Sometimes life knocks us down. Like a boxer drops to one knee after a punch from his opponent, we can be struck down by insensitive souls or untimely trials. A critical evaluation of our work can feel like a jab to our face. A friend’s decision to walk away from their family is like a kick in the stomach. Financial pressure, relational stress, physical illness and religious persecution can all take a toll on our soul like a hook to the solar plexus. Even if we fall on our face, God’s grace lifts us up. We may be down, but not out.

When we find ourselves down, it means the Lord is up to something. When we are on our backs, we look up to Him for hope. When we are stressed, our Savior gives us a refuge of rest. When we hurt He heals. When we drift, He disciplines. Our heavenly Father does not abandon us when others walk away. Disappointment drags us down toward despair, but Christ lifts us up and repairs our broken heart, vision, and dreams. A transition may feel long, but He grows our faith through it. Down, but not out.

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10).

Society's mores that once reflected righteousness may give way to unrighteousness, but the Lord still reigns. The Body of Christ may suffer a black eye from our judgmental attitudes and apathy toward sin. But God’s influence has not been extinguished. The church is blemished because it is made up of imperfect people. Its reputation is bruised but the Lord’s reputation is without question. Jesus lifts up His bride, the church, to bring Him glory.

Therefore, we look to the Lord to lift us up. Since God inhabits the praises of His people, we praise Him in the middle of our malaise. As we lift Him up in worship our heavenly Father lifts us up in His love and sweet fellowship. By faith, Christ comforts our downcast soul. Thus, we persevere through trials. We don’t give up, because Jesus lifts us up. We take a step back for Him to prepare our hearts, then we move forward confidently in His strength. Down, but not out.

Transitions

The rest of their brothers (the priests and the Levites and all who had returned from the captivity to Jerusalem) began the work, appointing Levites twenty years of age and older to supervise the building of the house of the Lord.  Ezra 3:8

 

Transitions are hard, even good ones. But sometimes it is time to move out and move on. God may be calling you back to a particular city or town for you to influence old and new friends for Christ. Or He may be calling you to a brand new endeavor full of wonder and risk. Either way, your transition is what is best for His kingdom and for your spiritual growth. Transitions are a time to trust the Lord, His timing, and to live boldly for Him in and through the transition.
 
The goal is to position yourself, with career and family, for the most impact on God’s kingdom, placing you and your family in an environment that will challenge, nurture, mature, and provide opportunity for your spiritual growth and expression of gifting. Yes, pray much and seek wise counsel, but do not let fear of the unknown stifle you. This life is your one opportunity to follow hard after God.
 
“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6).
 
Do not let the things of this world paralyze you or cause you to pause. Hesitation can hurt. However, in your zeal, do be sensitive to your loved ones. Make sure to nurture them through the process. Retain Christ as your compass through the transition. He will keep you honest and soften the hearts of those most affected by the move. Do not let the fear of man get you off mission. Rather, let the fear of God lead you to follow His call.
 
Transitions can be exciting. They can keep us young. They move our faith to a whole new level. You could have stayed in your comfort zone with a minimally felt need for God. But now your dependence on Him is daily, real time. You feel and know He is your loving heavenly Father. Your circumstances may or may not get better, but you will.
 
“Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt…. The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered” (Genesis 39:1–2).
 
Is He leading you to a new city? Hire a realtor. Does He want you to downsize so you can simplify your life? Put up a for sale sign. Does He want you to cap your lifestyle so you can give away more money? Tell your financial advisor. Does He want you to move overseas and train national leaders? Get a passport. Does He want you to reach out to your neighbors? Invite them to dinner. If He wants you, trust Him, and wholeheartedly give yourself God.
 
Divinely orchestrated transitions are like a loyal friend whom you totally trust. See this shift as an asset on heaven’s balance sheet of your life. Ride change like the ocean waves. It may be a little scary or maybe a lot scary, but He is with you. You will crash occasionally, but He will buffer your fall, like resting on a soft, sandy sea bottom. Let this transition lead you closer to God and His will. You will never know exactly what you would have missed if you do not, and you will have few regrets if you do.