Humble wisdom

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. Proverbs 3:7

Humble wisdom does not hint at a holier-than-thou attitude. On the contrary, it is contrite before Christ and modest before men. Humble wisdom is very grateful to God for His blessing of insight and understanding into eternal matters. Wisdom is not a badge of superiority to be worn with pride, but a blanket of security that humbles the heart.

Wisdom without humility becomes conceited and is accompanied by a condescending attitude. It is ugly as it disfigures the soul. It is like star athletes who are so full of themselves they fail to reach their potential for lack of team support. However, humble wisdom says, “I am a fellow learner of the Lord’s ways; I am a work in progress just like you.” It is to a heart of humility that God entrusts His wisdom; so stay desperate for divine direction.

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom” (James 3:13).

The more wisdom increases in your heart and mind, the more pride needs to decrease in your persona. It is the fear of the Lord that keeps you from thinking you can be anything special outside of your Savior Jesus. The fear of God does not forget that wisdom comes from above. Yes, your experience enhances wisdom, and your pain can produce wisdom, but ultimately wisdom resides with God and His Word.

This is why in humility you hunker down and pray:

Heavenly Father, I bow in awe before you and ask for insight and direction. You are the author of all wisdom.

It is submission to Christ and His command that squeezes out selfish, worldly wisdom and replaces it with the humble wisdom of heaven. Therefore, request wisdom for His glory, and never cease to learn from those whom the Lord sends daily into your life.

“Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty (snobbish, high-minded, exclusive), but readily adjust yourself to [people, things] and give yourselves to humble tasks. Never overestimate yourself or be wise in your own conceits” (Romans 12:16).

Armored up and ready to go

Now my beloved ones, I have saved these most important truths for last: Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you. Put on God’s complete set of armor provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies of the accuser! Ephesians 6:10-11, The Passion Translation

A little testimony to get us started today.  My son Tyler sometimes likes to try to race outside in the dead of winter dressed in a short sleeved shirt, no long sleeves, no gloves, no jacket, no scarf, no hat (OMG) Scratching my head in disbelief, I tried to listen to and understand his young minded reasoning. In one case it was a fashion statement, not wanting to burden himself with the baggage of an unappealing coat in tow, bowing to certain peer expectations. Another line of reasoning was a rush to the next exciting activity, anticipating fun outweighed unnecessary preparation to fight the outdoor elements. Either way, my wife and I helped him to slow down and dress appropriately.

Paul used vivid imagery of the day, as his readers knew well the dress of Rome’s military. A wise soldier would not engage in battle without weapons, nor would he fight the enemy with only part of his resources. A sword without a shield, a head without a helmet or feet without sandals would give an unfair advantage to the adversary. In a similar fashion, the Lord calls us to prepare for our protection against our antagonist the devil. By faith we suit up in God’s spiritual armor. The Lord’s holy weapons are lethal and through prayer all work together to resist evil strategies.

“We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5, NLT).

I lose perspective when I try to reason my way through a rough patch in life. Instead of leaning into the Lord’s weapons of faith, truth, righteousness and His loving salvation—in fear my heart and mind fall captive to the human weapons of logic and self-preservation. God’s will is not always a logical linear step in the easiest direction, often the Spirit humbles me in the wilderness to prepare me for the promised land. In addition, self-less service is the Lord’s tactic to grow my trust in Him so as not to obsess over losing possessions or privileges—He is my provider.

Have life’s battles brought you to your knees? Are you exhausted over not knowing what to do? If so, stop listening to the lies of the enemy telling you there is no hope and you are not worthy of love. Rest in the Lord’s compassion, allow His Spirit to infuse you with strength and comfort. Eternal energy is available for you to tap into with trust in God’s goodness. Lift your eyes off your circumstances onto Christ, for He will lead you to take captive rebellious thoughts, and engage in love’s obedience. Use all the armor of God to defeat the accuser’s lies. In Him, we win!

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

Living that generous life

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:16-18 

If you’re like I have been in the past, perhaps you have thought of generosity strictly as the act of giving money to a person or organization in need. But generosity is more than giving financially. It’s an attitude of love that flows from our hearts into our actions: It comes through our hands to hug and give. It comes through our bodies to give time and talents. It flows from our mouths to grant grace, tenderness, and kind words. Like most people, I have had the humbling honor of giving in various ways over the years. But the generosity I have experienced as the result of being a part of a blended family has literally transformed me. Prior to marrying my wife, the thought of becoming a bonus Dad definitely wasn’t on my bucket list. But what I didn’t know was how God would joyfully expand my heart and capacity to love through being a part of a blended family. In ways I could have never imagined, the Lord has used my two bonus kids to teach me how to be more generous with love, talents, time, and money. “No one can have too many people loving them.” In that one sentence, God invited me to shift from being selfish and thinking about my own emotional safety, to thinking about giving generous love. He was inviting me to love them because He loves them. This statement from the Lord helped me see that although I am not the biological father, I still have an important and vital role to play.   I have learned that the ability to be generous in love and action is deeply rooted in the truth that I am not an extra family member that no one wants. I am a son of the King who is on an assignment to love generously and to let that love show in a variety of ways: through finances, talents, time, patience, and words of encouragement and wisdom.  I have honestly discovered that in all my life there has been no greater honor. Giving generously has been a huge gift to me. It has expanded me and brought me so much joy to be generous daily, and I wouldn’t change a thing. “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35).

A gentle whisper

Have you ever been desperate for an encounter with God?  Anxious for Him to show up and give you some sort of grand, extravagant revelation about His purpose for you on Earth?  

          The next time you feel that way, remember this...Don't blink.  You may miss it.

 

The statement I just made is from a look I took into the life of Elijah.  His story reminds us that whether we hear Him or not, God still speaks.  And whether we feel it or not, we all of us still have a divine purpose.  

 

Elijah was the boldest of God's prophets.  But in First Kings 19, we find him on the run, in fear for his life, and in desperate need of a revelation.  Here's how the Lord responded.   

God sent a mighty wind that broke the rocks into pieces on Mount Horeb.  But God was not in the wind.  He sent an earthquake, but God was not in the earthquake. He sent fire, but God was not in the fire.

 

God was in none of those things.  Instead, His revelation came in a whisper...  a still, small voice that reminded Elijah he still had a purpose on Earth. Be encouraged today beloved.  When we are seeking the voice of God or an encounter with God, don't fixate on the next grand thing or huge sign.  Be on the lookout for the next small one or simple thing. I have discovered that God often does His best work without fanfare.  He always has let me give you a couple examples:

Look at Moses.  A baby found floating down the Nile River becomes a prince in Egypt, and later a fugitive living a quiet life on the backside of the desert. But that child, that fugitive from justice, became a mighty deliverer after a meeting a simple burning bush.

 

Look at David, an inconspicuous shepherd whose brothers were bigger and seemed more qualified to govern a nation.  But Samuel listened to the still, small voice of God and chose David.  And that sheep-watcher became a giant-slayer and a king who led God's people. By being confident in his ability and a simple sling-shot and God-confidence.

 

 God had a purpose for Moses and David that no one would have ever seen coming. I know you may sometimes feel as though you no longer have a purpose.  I know life gets hard and things go sideways and you may begin to think your best days are behind you.  That is nothing but the lies of the enemy talking, not God.  Find your own Mount Horeb, listen closely to what God says about His purpose for you on Earth, and then set out to do it.

love ripples

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

Have you ever considered that every person alive is significant because we are all connected to one another through a giant thread of influence—or what one of my friends calls, “ripples?” Just like a rock ripples when thrown into water, all of humanity is connected.

Think of it this way: The “ripple” effect of my choices, words, beliefs, and attitudes affect the lives of others, even when I don’t realize it. A friend affects my life, and I affect someone else’s life because of my friend, and that person affects someone else and on and on it goes. We are all connected to one another through our actions, thoughts, words, and beliefs.

We are never islands unto ourselves.

Both the good and bad ripple. Sin ripples. Hurt ripples. Pain ripples. Injustice ripples. Meanness ripples. But good news. . .love also ripples!

My wife and I recently discussed this when considering a particular injustice we have endured. We talked about our choices: We can either pass on the ripple of sin and pain by being cynical, angry, hateful and unforgiving, or we can stop the negative ripple so that we experience joy and others aren’t also negatively affected by our sin. We can cooperate with God and thereby bring redemption into the situation.

What we do with our hurt is never just about us and the other party. How we choose to respond can either continue the ripple of pain, hurt, anger, and unforgiveness, and we’ll pass it on to others, or we can turn that ripple into love, forgiveness, and grace. We can choose to be a blessing or a burden to others around us simply by handling the negative ripples of sin that come to us, God’s way.

The pain that we feel can be used for good or used for evil. One important thing to remember is that how we handle our lives will ripple for generations. To understand this truth, all you need to do is look at what’s been passed on to you from your parents. And, what was passed on to you from your parents was passed on to them from their parents, and so forth and so on. For good or evil, you have been affected.

But the good news is that it only takes one choice from you to stop a ripple of sin, hurt, negativity, anger, or unforgiveness so that you don’t pass it on.

So, what does this mean for you today?

Choose to turn whatever has happened to you into good. Choose wisely, for the blessing—not the burden—of others. How you handle your life can affect generations to come, even some people you will never know this side of heaven.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27).

Troublemakers

The trouble he causes recoils on himself; his violence comes down on his own head. Psalm 7:16

Troublemakers tend to self-destruct. There is no need to get worked up over their acts of deception. They are dishonest. They lie when the truth will suffice. The harm they intend to inflict on others comes back to hurt them. Troublemakers attempt to discredit those they are jealous of and in the process discredit themselves. Troublemakers conceive elaborate plans with evil intent. It is all about them and their agenda. They can easily tell you one thing and do another. In their mind, desired outcomes justify a polluted process.

Beware of troublemakers but do not urge them on with too much attention. Keep an eye on them but do not be consumed by them. Stand up to them in the right spirit without crushing their spirit. They are totally insecure and fearful, but are afraid to admit their insecurities. Because their acceptance is based on performance they are always looking for ways to impress others. It is not what we do that keeps us secure it is who we are and whose we are. In Christ we have all we need.

“As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it” (Job 4:8).

Trust God with troublemakers. You are not their judge and jury. He can handle them in His timing and in His way. We have our own sins to confess and repent of on a regular basis. Our sins may not be as blatant but they are still present. We may not sin in as pronounced a manner as a troublemaker nonetheless we still struggle with dishonesty and deception. It may be on a smaller scale but we still weigh in as one who struggles with being a troublemaker.

So let’s contrast the life of a troublemaker by being a blessing maker. Let’s be a blessing instead of a curse. Let’s extend consolation instead of consternation. Let’s focus on giving instead of taking. Let’s be a solace instead of a pain. Let’s serve instead of being served. Let’s encourage instead of discouraging. Kill them with kindness and watch God turn their hearts toward Him. Give them the respect they never had and they may begin to respect themselves. God’s grace can change troublemakers into blessing makers. We are proof!

“He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand” (Psalm 40:2).

Having enough

But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God. Luke 12:20-21

How much is enough? The Holy Spirit will lead couples to God’s heart for them in answer to this question. Fear says there is never enough, but faith says the Lord’s provision is enough. This doesn’t mean we don’t plan well, but it does mean that we do not obsess over “building bigger barns”. Instead we place our trust in our large and in charge—-Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The parable Jesus unpacks is packed full of emotion, wisdom and warning. He calls out a prosperous man for his foolishness: shortsightedness, self indulgence and self deception. The productive man deceptively thought he owned his possessions: “my crops, my barns, my grain, myself”. The farmer even missed stating the obvious: the Creator of the soil, his soul, and the harvest, was Almighty God. This foolish man failed to be rich toward God by living for himself. “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever” (2 Corinthians 9:8-9). Am I building my barns bigger? Or, am I building God’s barns better? Jesus, with striking contrast, transitions from two brothers bickering over their inheritance to illustrate a heart of greed. Subtly, wealth can simultaneously focus on the need for stuff—with less of a felt need for God. If I act like I am the owner of my possessions, then the acquisition of more possessions becomes my motivation. But, if I live like the Lord is the owner of my stuff, and I am His steward, then the distribution of His possessions becomes my passion. Generosity starves greed. As followers of Jesus, if we focus on becoming more like Christ, others will look to learn about following Christ. Being rich toward God is valuing what God values over ourselves. Here are some questions couples can pray in how to be rich toward God: Dear Lord, how do you love me and how do you want me to love others? Dear Lord, how can I build your barns better, and avoid building my barns bigger? Dear Lord, as my possessions increase, how can I increase my need for you? Dear Lord, what is your heart for the possessions I manage for you? Dear Lord, how can I be wise and not foolish in your eyes? Dear Lord, show me the peril to my soul of meeting the demands of bigger barns for me. Dear Lord, show me how you are enough. What does it mean to be rich toward God? It means to treasure what He treasures: my relationship with Him and others, lost souls, love and compassion for hurting human beings. To be rich toward God is to be rich in good deeds, rich in generosity and rich in relationships. “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

God's accounting system

If you want to make the most with what God has given you, you’ll need to adopt an eternal perspective.

Once you come to realize that all material possessions and earthly things will burn away, it changes your perspective. The world thinks that this earthly life is the sum of our existence and that everything within is the sum of our reward. Based on that understanding, everything we do on earth matters in a way that has us pursue as much gain, reward, and satisfaction as we can because one day, it will all come to an end.

But the world is unfamiliar with God’s accounting system. He takes into account what you do in the realm of time and applies it toward your eternal future. If you are a Christian, no investment for heaven should ever be too much (Matthew 6:19-21). In other words, what you do in time will determine what you experience in glory.

In practical terms, that means sacrificing your time for the benefit of others today pays in dividends tomorrow. It also means that there is so much more to life and its value than the days we spend here on earth. Adopt an eternal perspective when you invest all that God has given you and store up treasures for yourself in heaven

withdrawl

I long to drink of you, O God, drinking deeply from the streams of pleasure flowing from your presence. My longings overwhelm me for more of you! My soul thirsts, pants, and longs for the living God. I want to come and see the face of God. Psalm 42:1-2, 

For most of his adult life, my very athletic friend has maintained a regular regimen of physical exercise. He told me the other day, “If I miss an entire week of exercise my body revolts in ways that create a sick feeling. My body reacts since it is used to experiencing a more significant physical engagement”. Danny ignited my imagination with the thought of my soul’s expectation for spiritual exercise. If I miss too often, does my conditioned soul suffer spiritual withdrawals?

David reminds us of our soul’s thirst for God. If our soul has been acclimated to a regular routine of hydrating on the living water of the Lord, any significant disruption can create a sense of soul sickness or nagging spiritual withdrawals. The presence of God is necessary to acquire peace for our everyday life encounters, so we daily seek the face of God. A soul longs for the Lord’s love.

“I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands” (Psalm 119: 131).

What does it mean to drink of God? I like how Henri Nouwen describes this divine exchange: “My hope is that the description of God's love in my life will give you the freedom and the courage to discover . . . God's love in yours”. The Holy Spirit fills up our cup of love in solitude and silence, so we can be a source of refreshing love as we pour into others. We empty our cup of love, only for Christ to fill us back up again with His infinite, faithful love. This ongoing process of filling and emptying restores our soul—being refreshed in silence, beside quiet, “still waters”.

Have a long term goal to seek the face of God each day as you grow your spiritual exercise routine. Don’t be discouraged if you infrequently stretch your spiritual muscles. Start with 2-3 times a week of stillness and solitude to drink in the love of your Lord Jesus Christ, so you can in turn pour love into another. Create an expectation for your soul to be cared for, so if you experience prolonged prayerlessness, you are reminded by inner groans for God. Spiritual withdrawals are meant to draw you back to the divine in loving communion. Stay thirsty for Jesus!

“On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)” (John 7:37-39, NLT).

Chosen by God

Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him. Psalm 4:3

God chooses His children for Himself. Our relationship with our Lord is all about Him. It is all about His desires, His pleasures, His vision, His goals and His will. When we came to God we came empty handed clinging only to the cross of Christ. So in our surrender to our Savior we emptied ourselves and received Jesus. We went from self-sufficient to God dependent. We went from ungodly to godly. We went from an impersonal relationship with a distant God to an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father. God chose us for Himself.

Furthermore, the Lord wants you to know and follow His heart. He owns your life. You may be struggling with traveling overseas for the sake of His cause. But Jesus commands clearly to go into all the world and make disciples. Or you may be too busy to build a relationship with your neighbors. But your sensitive Savior implores you to love your neighbors. You are at His disposal to carry out His desires.

“Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lord preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full” (Psalm 31:23).

Moreover God offers a clear channel of communication for His children. He hears when we call to Him. Prayer is not passive for our Heavenly Father. He is interested in our intense circumstances and our heartfelt fears. He listens to and answers our prayers. It is not always an answer as we think it needs to be answered. He defines His will for us with His answers of ‘no’ and His answers of ‘yes’. We have no need to fear for our Heavenly Father is near.

The more we constantly converse with Christ, surely we will speak all the more boldly to men. Prayer is a purging and a preparation. It is God’s platform to launch us into fields that are ripe for harvest. It is a preparation for engagement in the lives of people. Prayer fills us with love so we can be emptied of love. We are chosen by God. What He chooses He makes holy. Without holiness we cannot see our Savior. Because He was poured out we are sold out.