Perseverance Leads to Break-Through

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. ~ James 1:12

The Bible says that because God is the highest authority, when He makes a promise, He must swear by Himself as the utmost authority, (Hebrews 6:13).   If we believe that God is the highest authority, shouldn’t we also believe God will come through on the promises He makes to us?  I think the tendency is to believe at first—the first month, year, or even five years.  After a while, we begin to weary in the waiting and doubt creeps in, causing us to lose sight of who God is and all the other times He’s fulfilled His promises.

Isaiah 55:9, 11 reveals that God’s Word is greater than anything we can measure and when He speaks, those things happen.  His Word also says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:19).  Unfortunately, the wearier we become the more we close our spiritual eyes and tell God we don’t see it anymore.  What we need to remember is that this life is not just about promises fulfilled, but about the journey there.  God’s Word says He wants to promote us from glory to glory, (2 Corinthians 3:18). “Glory to glory,” refers to a level of intimacy and maturity and along with that comes blessing.  As we grow closer to our Lord, we become more like Him and our walk is taken from its current level to a deeper and deeper level.  As we grow deeper and higher in our walk, the enemy fights harder to break us, but when we break-through, God’s glory is all the more.

In my own life, I’ve discovered that the areas of trial and testing are the same areas of break-through and blessing.  This kind of cycle has been referred to as strength- or endurance-training.  James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”  Every new level requires more of me than the last.  And every time we journey between promises fulfilled, we are being “trained” so that when we reach the next level, we won’t freak out and we’ll handle it as if it’s the most normal and natural way to go about things.

What has God promised you?  What has been revealed and what hast yet to be fulfilled?  Thank God for what He’s already done in your life and praise Him that He loves you enough not to leave you there.  Eleanor Roosevelt said, “When you stop learning you stop living in any vital and meaningful sense.”  God’s got you here for a reason; ask Him to reveal it to you and then praise Him that fulfillment is on its way.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering…But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. ~ 1 Peter 4:12-13

And I Will Heal Their Land

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. ~ 2 Chronicles 7:14

I was listening to the Joy FM this morning and the DJ’s were interviewing Jordan, a man whose story is one of the songs on Matthew West’s new CD.  Jordan grew up in a Christian home with wonderful & loving parents.  In college, he hurt his leg and got introduced to oxycontin. As happens with too many people, Jordan became addicted.  I listened to his story without too much emotion—yes I felt badly for the things he’d gone through, but he’s telling the story, so it must have a happy ending.  As soon as he “defined” himself, I became “attached” to the story.  He said, “I would now have to introduce myself as ‘Jordan, an addict,’ and I was ok with that.”  It was at that moment a light bulb went off and God opened my spiritual eyes and softened my heart and I thought to myself, “Does she think of herself that way?  Does she only see herself as an addict?”  I have a friend who has abused drugs and has seen herself as a victim, and seems to introduce herself that way.  Suddenly, my heart broke for her and all I could do was weep and pray for her.  My heart’s desire is that we would all see ourselves as we truly are: Children of the living God; Redeemed and freed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

A little over a year ago, I read a book by Mike Wilkerson, called Redemption: Freed by Jesus from the Idols We Worship and the Wounds We Carry.  This book changed the way I look at people and it changed the way I look at me.  It said that far too often we walk around with labels such as victim, addict, recovering addict, and the list goes on.  The author said that once you’ve accepted God’s forgiveness and accepted Christ into your heart and life you are no longer that label.  You are free; you are redeemed.  As you think about that, it lifts so many heavy burdens and you begin to feel lighter on your feet all because you have been made free.

I was thinking about this scripture in relation to the revelation I received this morning.  God said that when we pray He will heal our land.  How does He do that?  By opening our spiritual eyes and giving us a revelation; by calling us to pray for others that they would have a God-encounter where they could learn that they are free because they’ve been redeemed.  When we pray, God doesn’t wave a magic wand and turn a toad into a prince or a pile of garbage into a pile of money.  When God’s people humble themselves and pray, God moves mightily and people are healed—sometimes physically, sometimes emotionally, sometimes mentally, sometimes all of the above—and when people are healed, the land is healed.

First Impressions

Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known ~ Habakkuk 3:2

I heard my husband tell his mother that he and I are not like some people they know.  The people he was referring to are Christians, but had put a bad taste in the family’s mouth.  The unfortunate result being that my husband’s family assumed all Christians were like that and if that was the case, they wanted nothing to do with any Christians.

First impressions can have lasting results.  With this in mind, it’s more important for me to be genuine with others.  We are living in a broken world.  Habakkuk 3:2 calls for miracles and the hand of God to move in our lives.  If we are not the hands, feet, and love of Christ, how will people ever know He is real or really cares for them?  A thought to ponder: When people see me do they see Jesus and would they want to meet Him after interacting with me?

Lord, I pray that I would be an expression of your love in others’ lives.  Help me to be a breath of fresh air and carry the aroma of Christ with me.  In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

But thanks be to God, who…through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. ~ 2 Corinthians 2:14

Relentless Pursuit

I recently overheard a friend of mine in a conversation with another person.  My friend is someone I trust and respect and so his words surprised me.  He was trying to encourage another person to know they were special and that people cared about them.  In trying to convince this other person, my friend said, “They could have easily abandoned me because of my actions.  But instead they’re practically beating down my door to let me know they still care, that I still matter, and that they love me.”  I was so taken by what my friend said.  He was relentlessly pursued by people who refused to let him slip through the cracks.  It reminded me of how God pursues us, with that same relentless pursuit.  To God, it doesn’t matter how long we’ve been gone, or even what we’ve done.  As soon as we turn toward Him, He runs to embrace us.

Thank you, Father, for all of those who have been Jesus to my friend, who tirelessly called, encouraged, and loved him.  Thank you Lord, that that is how you love each one of your children.  Most of all, thank you that this is how you love me.  Father, I pray that I will show this same kind of relentless pursuit to another so that they will know they haven’t been abandoned and are completely loved by You.  In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. ~ Luke 15:20

The Sovereign Lord is My Strength

The Sovereign Lord is my strength ~ Habakkuk 3:19

I read a devotional yesterday that said having children transforms you into someone you never would have become without them. Several years ago, when people would ask me why I didn't have kids, I would tell them because I was selfish and if I had kids I would have to change.  And today, I realize how true that statement really is.  But the blessing of Savannah is not about the sacrifices that Brad and I are making.  The blessing is in the character-building and strength-training we are receiving, as well as the joy of having her in our lives.

No one could have prepared us for how the first three months have gone.  In fact, had they told us, we might not have begun this journey.  But here we are.  Our little Savannah is 3 months old.  She's healthy and happy and we are better--our marriage is better--today than even on the day she was born.  And why, because the Lord has us on this journey.  On day 1 of any exercise program, the task of getting into shape or losing weight seems daunting.  But day 93 doesn't look near as scary as day 1.  That's where we are: day 93.  Our little girl is 93 days old or 13 weeks or 3 months.  Her life has just begun and there are many more challenges to come, but because the Lord is our strength, we will get through the next 100 years, just like we've gotten through the past 93 days: relying on the Lord as our strength.

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. ~ Habakkuk 3:19

in2meC

The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. ~ Genesis 2:25

We all long for intimacy, but are often afraid of in2meC.  We are afraid to stand face to face and “naked”—totally open in every area—before the One who created us.  And why?  Because the world taught us to be afraid and ashamed.  He calls out to us to share with Him our secrets, our desires, our needs…but we don’t.  We look at Him and think, “I can’t.  I’ve messed up. I’m not worthy.  He would never really want to give me the desires of my heart.”  I remember several years ago a friend said to me, “God wants to know your desires.  Tell Him.”  I said that I couldn’t. I was afraid. What if He didn’t want to give me my desires…what would I do then?  I’d be devastated.  Lovingly, my friend said, “He placed those desires inside your heart.  Now He wants to share them with you and make your dreams come true.  But you need to share them with Him so He can reveal them to you.”  I hesitated.  And then began to cry and said aloud the desires of my heart.  My friend looked at me and smiled and said that I’d moved one step closer toward an intimate relationship with my Father and that He longs to share this kind of open relationship with me.

In what areas of your life are you “fully clothed” before your heavenly Father?  He wants you to shed your fears and the lies that you are not worthy.  He loves you and longs to share life with you.  He longs for a relationship that is in2meC and is not ashamed.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. ~ Isaiah 61:1-3