Godly living

Commit It All – Surrendering Your Perspective, Present, and Future to God

bible, Christian lifestyle, encouragement

“But I with the voice of thanksgiving
    will sacrifice to You;
what I have vowed I will pay.
    Salvation belongs to the Lord!”

– Jonah 2:9

There was once a man God called out to be the messenger of His salvation in a place called Nineveh. This city was a scary one. They were known for their terrible treatment towards others, especially Israel. To say the least, it seemed like a rather hopeless mission for this one guy to proclaim a truth so far from what the people believed and how they desired to live. Long story short, the man, Jonah, decided to run from God’s call and ended up drowning in the sea. Though this was actually just the beginning of one of the greatest revivals ever. Not just for Nineveh, but for the one with the self-centered perspective as well.

When hearing the story of Jonah and the eventual repentance of the cruel city of Nineveh, it is easy to see their salvation as the main attraction. But I have come to realize, perhaps we missed a very important point in this story. It happens not within the city bounds, but in the belly of the fish Jonah was swallowed by.

The verse stated above was the ending of his prayer to God…

Yes, he said thanks. He gave praise. And crazy enough, he gave surrender. Giving thanks to God in terrible situations has been something we often stumble across in scripture. But I think the most unique part of this verse is the second half.

Jonah surrendered two things to God; his obedience, and the result of that obedience.

As I was thinking about my future a few nights ago, this scripture popped out in a way it never has before. Just last week, my friends did a little breakdown of this passage but even then, it wasn’t clear to me that this verse, or shall I say prayer, was so important.

When a person feels called to something like a career field, it is only natural to get excited about the process and endless possibilities in the future. However, over time, as I have experienced this with writing, I realize that all of the excitement also comes with an overload of anxiety. Whether it be the fear of failure, perfectionism, impatience, or a feeling of inadequacy, when you feel called by God to walk into something so specific, it can be so very taunting.

But what if we began saying this prayer over every feeling of anxiety regarding both the process and future of our call?

What if we not only surrendered our current obedience to God, but also the results to come? It can be hard to relentlessly pursue something in faith when all of the doors seem closed and the call feels like more of a misunderstanding.

The process in which God called Jonah to endure was one that seemed completely irrational. And when God told Jonah to bring a message of life to the ruthless Ninevites, the result God desired was different than that of Jonah’s. Jonah believed these people were too terrible and did not deserve salvation. But after running and witnessing the power of God, Jonah recognized our call is not about our comfort. It is about the love, grace, heart, and truth of God. It is bound by nothing for our God knows no limits. And as long as God is the one empowering us through the process, the end result relies in His will alone.

Whether you feel called to do something life-long, temporary, or for just a few days or weeks, I hope Jonah’s prayer of surrender is one you form a habit of.

Long-suffering is fertile ground for frustration. And unfortunately, because we are not the one who holds the future, we are bound to experience it at some point. But my dear friend, you have the opportunity to tend seeds of hope and faith or seeds of impatience and anxiety. Time will allow for either one to grow, the choice is yours.

From someone who tries to surrender only the obedience in the process but not the result in the future…I assure you, the battle ahead is hard, and certainly not worth fighting on your own. God’s plans are good, beautiful, and unstoppable. The only person you are hurting when trying to take control is yourself.

Living Loved and Leaving the Grave Behind

bible, christian, encouragement, lifestyle

“I am willing…” – Luke 5:13 NIV

This has got to be one of the sweetest things Jesus has said, at least in my opinion.

This was said to a leper. An outcast. A man ignored by society and labeled as unclean, useless, unworthy of any community…a man whom Jesus loved.

Understanding why Jesus loves us so much has been a complicated thing to wrap my head around. He loves us because He chooses to. What compels one to see the rejected and flawed as beautiful and purpose-filled? I could not tell you. But what I can say is that God is so willing and loving despite all that we are.

Yet being broken just like the leper, tax collector, and paralyzed man in Luke 5, why is it that when we come to Jesus and are given a new name, there is a hesitation to leave our grave clothes behind as those 3 men did?

Desperate for God’s Involvement

Could it be a result of not actually wanting healing or perhaps the trouble of unbelief?

The moment the man with leprosy caught a glimpse of Jesus, he collapsed. Not even glancing up towards Jesus’ face, he cried and begged at His feet saying, “Lord if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

This man was desperate for healing and acted out in that desperation. He knew the power and heart of Christ enough to know that He could heal and often would.

But what about in your life? It is critical that we posture ourselves at the feet of Jesus in prayer, putting faith in His power that still moves today and in His heart that we know is abundant in love. As the man offered Jesus access into his situation, Jesus “reached out His hand and touched the man.” What a beautiful joy it is to have a God who steps in and reaches for us.

Through the lepers desperation, Jesus made him new. As someone who finds it quite hard to willingly place myself in a receptive posture, I realize that the new creation God longs for us to become cannot be cultivated unless I give Him access. I know it is hard, but my friend, I pray you see that regardless of whether or not you feel worthy of being loved, God’s goodness is running after you (psalm 23). Not because you did anything to deserve it, but again, because He simply chooses to love.

No longer was the man known as a leper, but rather, he was free to leave that label behind and live clean. May we too be as desperate to leave the grave behind as we are desperate to be healed.

Confidence in God’s Faithfulness

This next passage of scripture is honestly one of the most fascinating events recorded. Jesus was in the middle of His teaching when a few men decided it was now or never for the healing of their friend. With the crowd being impossible to push through, these men put their paralyzed friend on a mat and lowered him down from the ceiling!

These men came to Jesus because they were confident of who He claimed to be. Because of their bold faith, they refused to let this moment pass so they did anything they could to get their friend in Jesus’ presence. Can we just pause for a moment and note that these sweet guys are perfect examples of the kind of friend we ought to become and be looking for.

In response, Jesus saw their hearts and said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” Again God brought new life into the lives of the broken. He sees the depth of our desires and when we long for Him, being bold in our faith, He responds with sweet redemption. Yet this was not the end of the story. After being criticized by the pharisees, Jesus reassured the crowd of the truth in His word. The same truth the men from the roof believed; Jesus is the Son of Man and holds the authority to forgive sin and heal physical ailments. And shortly after, He told the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” And so he did.

Dear Christian, there will be times where the mountain in front of you seems impossible to get through. But may those moments cause us to reflect back and look up towards our faithful God. Sometimes the goodness in the past or in His word is the only clear thing you can see. But let your confidence never waiver for our God is the same loving and willing God as He was in these two passages.

Receptive of God’s Love

Now we come to one of the hardest passages for me to get through. Levi was a man who was shunned by his community, as the jews did not like the tax collectors because they were labeled as selfish traitor’s. He was just a man living in sin, like you and me. But on one random day, Jesus caught sight of this man and said two words to him, “Follow me.” If that wasn’t surprising enough, in what seems like immediately, verse 28 says, “and Levi got up, left everything and followed Him.”

One common theme we see among each of these stories is the obedience of these men as they encounter Jesus. Every single one of them accepted the grace He gave out. Maybe for you that is very easy. But for me, I struggle to understand how they did such a thing. Not one of them tried to explain themselves, make promises to live perfectly for Jesus as repayment, nor were any of them even recorded asking questions of what to do if they became sick, paralyzed, or rejected again. Instead, they openly received the love and mercy of God and went on testifying His goodness.

After Levi started following Jesus, he threw a big banquet at his house. Among the invited were not pharisees and saint’s, but tax collector’s and other sinners. Though that may make our hearts tender to think about, it made the pharisees all the more mad. But again, Jesus defended His love for us as He said in verse 31-32, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

I can only imagine the amount of humility it took to be at that party. The people knew they needed Jesus and were willing to be open to His love, even though they knew they could never repay Him.

May we learn to put aside our worries, doubts, feelings of inadequacy, and any other wall that might block our hearts from giving Jesus full access. He loves because He chooses to. And my dear friend, He is indeed willing to make you new if you let Him in. You may not be fully healed or freed from the things you want in the way you want to, but He will surely work things for your ultimate good and for His glory in His perfect timing.

The life of Jesus was lived out so that we could have a path to salvation, yes, but also for God’s heart to be displayed in front of us, as He stepped out of heaven to be in flesh like us. Delight for He is a sweet savior and thank goodness our circumstances nor brokenness change that truth.

Go ahead, leave those grave clothes where Jesus found you and go on dancing for you have been made new.

The Unexpected Warfare

bible, Christian lifestyle, encouragement

Over the recent weeks, I have taken on the challenge of becoming infatuated with who Jesus is.

As I said in my last blog, I struggle with getting caught up in the works and service I can do for God instead of who He is as my Savior, Lord, and honestly, my everything. So as I have desperately been on a mission to truly fall in love with the being of God, I have realized that it is a lot harder than I thought.

Seeing how great He is and understanding How worthy He is of praise is not the hard part, rather, for me, the most challenging time is when I seek His love and my own flesh tries to stop me.

Sometimes the inner battle stems from a feeling of not being allowed to accept His love. Other times it is because I do not believe I can represent Him well if I actually do receive the beautiful gift of His adoption and grace. And many times, I simply feel as though I have gone too far for too long to even consider living in the love He offers. Ultimately, what I have come to realize is the severity of the warfare in my mind because all that I feel is completely the opposite of all God fights and stands for.

One of the first steps I thought I would take on this mission to refocus my attention on what- or shall I say who – really matters most, was to read the Gospels again.

I have heard people describe them as love letters. Pages of endless grace. Words that not only speak truth, but fill our souls as we allow the Spirit to mold us. So I figured it was a decent place to begin.

This time however, I did not read it as though I have read other books of the Bible; Enduring Word Commentary open alongside 2 other translations and a pile of sticky notes. Instead, I read it like a story. A story of the love my God revealed 2000 years ago as He spoke to confused, hurting, broken people, just like me.

I began with Luke. The only Gospel that was written from a gentile. An outsider. Or at least that was what his people felt like before Jesus. And can I just say, the nuggets of goodness I have experienced during this time was unlike anything else.

But more than anything, what I wish to share with you, as I wait to speak on Luke for when I finish, is this…

Our flesh so desperately longs for more than this world can offer. And for some reason, immediate satisfaction, though temporary, seems to hold a great grip on us. But greater than that hold is the weight of God’s love for us. More than ever I have witnessed the impact of spiritual warfare in the heart of those pursuing a deeper relationship with God. In others and in myself.

But my dear friend, the battle is worth it all. The God who stepped off His throne to “reach out His hand and touch” the one with leprosy (Luke 5:13). The God who left Heaven to reach the nations no one else cared about (4:43). And the very God who laid down His life for the joy of knowing us forever (23:46) is the same God who is fighting for you in this seemingly hopeless battle.

I know this war with ourselves is hard. It is crazy to think that out of all of the things pulling us from God, our own lies we have lived in for so long could be the most powerful stronghold of them all.

Weary traveler, there is hope, and I am sure you know, but I dare you to live like it is attainable. Like the love isn’t just for everyone else. I dare you to die to yourself so that the voice of God can be the one filling your lungs with genuine praise and your heart with unshakable peace.

Perhaps it begins with a baby step. Do not fear, for the Holy Spirit can bring transformation with even just a change in where you turn your eyes.

“When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man…Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” – Luke 5:8,10

Beloved Christian, there is a “from now on you will…” for you as well. And Jesus, knowing all that you have and will face, calls you to delight and obey without fear. Your battle is real and strong, I am sure, but the God who loves you so dearly is stronger.

From Heart to Hands & Back to Heart.

bible, Christian lifestyle

“May we never forget how we felt before Jesus…” – my pastor

Empty. Desperate. Longing for more.

When we are saved, we are taught that the love we experience should move from our hearts to our hands. Luke 3 records the crowd of commoners asking John the Baptist what they ought to do now, and he replies with; “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” James 2 tells us that faith without works is dead. And Jesus Himself tells us in Mark 12 to, “love your neighbor as yourself.”

Clearly, the acts we make towards others and the way we love those around us plays a major role in being a follower of Christ. A major role, yes, but not our first priority.

In my journey of trying to get closer to God, I realize I may have done quite the opposite. Though there is immense value in serving others, the mission was not designed to be powered by ourselves. For we need Jesus just as much as the unbeliever.

I believe amidst my hope to love on others, I have become my own barrier between God’s love.

Before John the Baptist was even asked what the people should do, he exclaimed, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” Before James discusses the need for works, he reveals that one must have faith to compel them towards action. And before Jesus talks about loving others like ourselves, He says that we need to first “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”

Our relationship with God must be first in all we do. I know, you are probably saying “well obviously…” but I am sure that I am not the only one who has let this simple, yet life-giving truth slip my mind. I have written about this struggle of mine in the past, but I feel as though there is one principle I have continued to dismiss.

The love God gives is unconditional, sacrificial, and the only thing that will fulfill me.

For so long, between leading small groups, serving at church, creating blogs, and doing everything in my power to love on others the best I can, I have noticed my connection with God was for the sake of being able to help those around me, completely ignoring my own need for Him.

In what I thought was a humble lifestyle, I have leaned on my own strength and pride more than anything.

So, my dear friend, I am delighted to tell you that if you feel the same, there is indeed a better path. A path not dependent on our capabilities, confidence, or work capacity. Rather, it is a path that is lifted in the hands of our sovereign Lord. Saturated in a love so great we are not even able to imagine it’s bounds. And this path is not only offered to you and I, but it was the only path we were designed for.

Living a life where the love of God flows from our hearts to our hands and stops there is truly no life at all. God’s love was made to flow through us in an endless cycle. For how can we properly show God’s love and care to others without letting Him teach us daily?

Before coming to faith, maybe your heart was so desperately hoping for something that would fill it. So heavy with an emptiness as you realized you were too weak on our own. Or so hungry for something that would last beyond the setting of the sun. For me, I felt all of these ways. And after walking with God for a few years, I hope that thirst for fulfillment never dies now that I know where to look.

Beloved Christian, there is a love waiting to overflow in you from a God who wants nothing but you first. Come as you are. For His love knows no bounds. Let it flow from your heart to your hands and back to your heart again and again.

The Gentleness of Jehovah Jireh

bible, christian, Christian lifestyle, encouragement, Worship

Burnout. I am sure that is a familiar feeling many of us have experienced at some point in our lives. As the responsibilities, classes, workload, bills, and expectations from others pile up so high beyond our vision, there comes a time where the way things are can no longer continue without paying the cost of ourselves. Whether it be our health, time, or sanity, we often trade in a hefty portion of our beings out of fear or for the burden of control.

But what happens when the pile begins to lean? We lose grip. Despite our desire to maintain held together, the weight has become unbearable. We fall. And we fall hard.

The contents in this pile may be from the Lord. They may have been given with great clarity and have resulted in much fruit. But as time went on and our arms began to shake, at just a whisper of temptation and deceit from the enemy, the stack of good things trembles as our fear takes over.

This, my friend, is not a feeling only you have felt. Flip back to 1 Kings 18 and 19 with me…

Elijah, a great prophet of the Lord, faced seemingly one of the hardest days of his life. But surprisingly, it did not follow a trial, loss, or anything of the sort. Rather, it came just after one of the greatest showdowns in history. In chapter 18, Elijah goes to Israel to correct those worshiping foreign deities (baal). In doing so, the prophets of these gods came face to face with Elijah on Mount Carmel to have a challenge. Whichever deity brought fire on the altar they made was the one who they deemed worthy to worship. Long story short, baal did not even make the wind warm, meanwhile God brought a fire so powerful that it engulfed the trench of water surrounding it.

After an awe-striking event like the one just described, you would assume that Elijah was not only amazed, but joyful over the power and faithfulness of his God. But such was not the case.

At the beginning of chapter 19, Elijah is threatened to be hunted and killed by an evil lady named Jezebel. Even after such an incredible act of God, Elijah was fearful. So much so that after running and finding a tree to lay under, he “prayed that he might die.” The verse goes on to say, “I have done enough, Lord…Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”

How heartbreaking. But also, how similar has it been for some of us to get so overwhelmed and drained that even though we are confident in the power of God, we fall into the taunts of the enemy to give up. To leave it all behind. Or if you’re like me, just numb it all out and seclude yourself.

However it is that we handle our moments of feeling overwhelmed, I want you to pay very close attention to how God responds to Elijah.

After being completely honest with God in his despair, Elijah did not wait for a response, instead, he actually just fell asleep. (verse 5)

But thank goodness we serve a God who is not only powerful, but the most gentle provider. Jehovah Jireh means “the God who provides”. Though this characteristic is often used in reference to the story of Abraham, I feel as though it is also so beautifully exhibited in this scene to come…

Hearing His child cry and seek comfort under the shadow of a tree, scripture immediately goes into revealing the caring heart of
God as the verse reads, “all at once an angel touched him and said, ‘get up and eat.'” with bread appearing over hot coals and a jar of water lying beside it. And so, Elijah did. Then shortly after, he fell back asleep. Honestly, I find this so sweet that with such peace and comfort in the presence of the working hand of God, Elijah doesn’t ask questions or try to pay God back. He just accepts the care and food provided and continues resting.

It is so nice to know that when we come to God, our striving can cease. He knows we cannot properly handle this whole life thing on our own, so my dear friend, please stop making yourself carry a weight not meant for your limited capacity.

Moving on to verse 7, it begins with a patience so wholesome. Revealing God’s understanding of us and our drained hearts, He does not make His angel force Elijah to stay awake after eating and drinking. Instead, there is a moment where God gives Elijah time to sleep before the verse stated, “The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.'”

Wow. I pray in your moments of feeling scattered and empty, you may rest in the loving care of God. He does not condemn us for how we feel. Rather, He does everything He knows will bring comfort and true life into our dying hope.

I encourage you to go on reading through chapter 19 as God eventually ends up speaking in a soft, gentle whisper after Elijah feels strengthened. But for this blog, if you take anything, I pray it is openness you pursue towards the things God wishes to fill you with. Not to preach the false health, wealth, and prosperity gospel, but for the sake of remembering who truly has control.

It wasn’t until Elijah began fearing Jezebel’s threat based on his own strength that he felt overwhelmed and in despair. His focus was lost. Whether it be a common struggle we have to rest in the hope of God’s provision or not, I warn you fellow Christian, that the enemy can so easily slip into even the smallest of cracks in our unbelief. But when, not if, you find yourself in this position of fear or despair, do not push aside the only source of strength and love that is capable of restoring your hope.

God understands your flaws and limits. Yet He still desperately pursues a relationship with you. I pray that you, my dear friend, take heart in the gentleness of Jehovah Jireh. For no other can provide your every need in the same perfectly compassionate approach of Him who came off His throne for you to have a path to redemption.