spiritual growth

God With Us – Our Greatest Promise

bible, Christian lifestyle

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.'” – Exodus 33:1-3

Imagine you were just offered all you have ever dreamed of, but it’s going to cost you Everything…

This is the decision the Israelites had to make as they stood in the Wilderness awaiting further direction from the Lord. And technically, they got it. He would send them to the Promise Land, with all He told Abraham about. They would have travel mercies and even Angelic protection from all who were currently in the land. But they would not have God’s nearness.

The Israelites have rebelled again and again against the Lord. And so in this moment, He directs them to continue on, ensuring He would remain faithful to His promise, despite their disobedience. Honestly, considering how quickly they gave up on Him before, their response was surprising. But it was also what was the best decision they could have made.

They mourned. They refused to go on without the nearness of the One who had led them all this way. It wasn’t about the destination, the land, resources, or physical home. It was about the One whom they found belonging in.

So they did not go.

When I think about my dream of becoming an author, I so easily get wrapped up in the process. The research, practice, and editing takes up so much of my time and attention. Though I pray before, during, and after each blog I write, I still find myself battling what I ought to do when the editing time rolls around.

The moment I hit save draft, my mind is flooded with thoughts like, “Should I say this or that? What are better SEO words? Should I change the photo to be something more people would likely stop scrolling for? What about the length? I included all I felt led to write, but is it too long for people’s attention?”

I wish I could tell you that I don’t struggle with the thought of what others think. But I find it more frequent that I do. I want so badly for someone to stumble across these writings and find hope. But I also know for one to find this blog, my marketing strategy must be somewhat decent.

Although there is nothing wrong with good marketing, sometimes, I struggle as it becomes an idol for me. My writing is changed and my pictures take hours to take or choose as the interests of others becomes my main priority.

Yet, that is not the purpose of this. That is not the purpose of me.

During my senior year of high school, I was given a love and passion to write for the sake of making Jesus not only known, but more visible in daily life to the doubters and critics like myself.

For years, that is what I did. Yet recently, quite a few people have asked me about what I have been writing for my future book(s).

I have beaten around the bush each time because the truth is, I have so much research and ideas and yet the Lord has yet to bring me peace over finalizing any of them. Though I was content with that for years, lately it has ached me to not know why. To not even have an idea of a title that feels approved by God.

But praise Jesus for the humble teachings in Scripture.

I have a degree in communication with a concentration on social media and another one in organizational management. For years now, I have worked for different companies in social media management and marketing. So, you would think I would know something about how to get this blog out there. In fact, in the first 2 years of all this, I think I actually did pretty well. But now, I feel little to no inclination to do so.

Not because I feel unmotivated or lazy. But rather, I feel God has drawn my attention elsewhere. And for good reason. In society today, there is a great emphasis on advertising the moment a talent is discovered. But I fear that should not always be the case. One of the things I love about some musicians, is that you will hear their latest album, and then never hear a word from them for months or even years. But when the next album is released, it is incredibly beautiful. Especially faith-based artists, their lyrics tend to reveal an amazing spiritual journey compared to the last album they let out.

I feel like in this moment, in the Wilderness, the Israelites sort of felt this way. Their dreams were at their fingertips. And they had the path to get there. But their heart knew what it desired most and their soul grieved for the only true source of life and love. So they stayed in the nearness of the Lord.

Their decision was then blessed as their spokesman, Moses, received word from the Lord, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (v. 15).

What a moment of awe. I am sure there were some nervous and doubtful hearts in the Israelite crowd that looked towards the Promise Land once more and let a few tears trickle down their cheek as they put their last handful of hope in this God. Not that He would lead them down an easy path. But hope in His presence being far more worthy than any ground they could ever call their own.

And in response to their submission and trust, the Lord not only promised His faithfulness in the Abrahamic covenant (getting them to the Promise Land), but He also promised His nearness to them in every step alongside a beautiful thing called rest.

A restless mind is not a pleasant one. To constantly be unsure of the security of one’s love or reliability is quite a difficult way to live. But the Lord promises Moses and Israel that, with Him, there does not have to be any fear that He will abandon, fail, or manipulate them on their journey.

As I sit here, only feeling peace to continue my broad research and write blogs every few weeks, I fight the temptation to take the blessing over the Giver. And though I may some knowledge on how to build my own path to my hearts longings, it all fades away as I remember the worth of Christ over everything else.

So I do not force books or blogs because the world says I ought to for my own glory. But instead, I take the longer route for it is where my God is saying He will go with me. What greater promise could I have than that?

My dear friend, the journey itself was never promised to be easy. The fact that rest is given shows us that there are trials to be expected, yet no need to drown in fear, hopelessness, or anxiousness. Despite the fleeting treasures this world claims you need, as Christ followers, may we recognize that the presence of the Lord and the gifts He gives us are different. May we never lose sight of our true Everything, even for everything else.

Thoughts To Consider:

Is there a dream you feel God gave you that you struggle to have patience for? Why?

Is it the opinions of others, the feeling of failure, the fear of being behind, or something else that pulls you from putting all your trust in God’s timing?

Do you make time to simply hear from God, even if you feel He may be saying something you don’t want to hear?

Consider the beauty you could unravel instead of discouragement when you begin trusting God’s presence is worth giving up your expectations.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.'” – Exodus 33:1-3

Just His Presence & Somehow, That’s Enough

christian, lifestyle, spiritual formation

“Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life.” – Psalm 143:8

What a strange position it is to not know if you can trust your heart.

As I prepare to make a drastic change in my life; moving to a new city in a new state, I can’t help but constantly find myself stunned at reality.

It is though I am on a boat with still waters, yet no land in sight. The tank is full, I have resources, but the map is only highlighting the destination. Not quite the route.

Anxiety, doubt, and hopelessness are no strangers to me. Many of their causes are unknown. But that’s okay. I came to a point in my life where I stopped asking “why” and God began opening my eyes to “how”. Specifically, how to see Him in all of it.

The last few months has had its ups and downs, but one thing I noticed was that I was talking my heart into trusting my mind more than I was needing to persuade myself to look for God in those anxious times.

This was not because I doubted that I would see God in my troubles, but because I knew He was already there. I knew that when I asked Him to walk with me on every step of this journey back when it was just a dream, the faithful God I serve would remain near. Not because I deserved it, but because that is who He is. The One who stays.

So as tensions rose and the voices of doubt flooded my heart, it was but surrender that I needed. Surrendering of my feelings.

When You’re Unsure If You Can Trust Your Heart

When we are caught between what we feel and what we know, it’s easy for our hope to waiver and our fears to rise.

I feel a lot and I feel deeply. But what I have witnessed God do has fortified the truth that my mind grips so tightly to. My heart struggles to agree many times, but the God I know and He who knows me, is One who is faithful.

I want to clarify that surrendering is not to manipulate yourself. But it is to reveal that reality you are living is different than that which you knew before Christ.

Before we were reconciled with God, we were a slave to sin. Maybe it defined you, drained you, filled you with shame, or bound you in addiction. Whatever it did, you were not free. And the feelings of weariness surely could consume you.

But once you have accepted Christ as your sacrifice, you are now given the freedom of new life. A new reality. It is not a hope we only dream of for eternity, but it is the very life we now live. You are free.

I say that to provide reasoning in the surrendering of our feelings. We as humans are far from understanding the entirety of living as free as we actually are. That is because we struggle with the symptoms of sin in the world and the habits we have yet to break from our past. And the beautiful truth is that God is fully aware of this.

So He asks us to cast them on Him. Our anxieties. Our doubts. Our fears. Our shame. All of it, He wants to make new. He wants to show us that we can live in a world of brokenness and trials while remaining in constant communion with Him.

So, how is that attainable?

Learning to Surrender Emotions and Trust God’s Presence

Surrender begins by recognizing its purpose: to open our hearts toward the One greater than all things, including our feelings.

That begins with knowing who you serve. We cannot logically give up our most valuable things (time, devotion, service, idols, etc.) to something or someone we do not believe is worth it. We may say that we do, but God knows our hearts. You are only hurting yourself when you hide who or what the “lord” of your life truly is. So we must read His Word and be in prayer with Him. About all things, we must communicate with Him.

Then, we must listen. There is no point in seeking God if you are only interested in having someone to rant to. For God to truly lead, discipline, and speak to you, you need to give Him room for that. That can come in various ways, but do not assume He will write it on a sign for you if you never devote intentional time to hearing the voice of your shepherd. For only when you know that, can you as His sheep, see how far He has come to reach you and bring you home.

When we know the voice of our God, it makes it ever so slightly easier to know what He is and is not in. I fear we beg God for His blessings more than His presence. It broke my heart to realize not too long ago that the love and peace described in Scripture is what He is the very embodiment of. For I cannot count how many years I have rejoiced over the love of God like a boost in my esteem, not acknowledging it was His presence longing to meet me where I was. His gentle voice was something I ignored, as I simply took the blessings of His nearness.

Is is not good to live with a disconnection like that. God is not a genie and we must recognize that if we ever desire to understand the point of His sacrifice on the cross.

However, none of the above is any good if we do not apply it through action. And although serving others is part of it, I want to focus more on the molding of our personal character. As we are drawn to the Lord and our eyes are opened more to His being, we must do as Christ commanded; obey.

Much of our outward obedience actually depends greatly on our inward discipline. For if you feel the conviction of God in an area of your life and choose to ignore it, your service to others is but an attempt to either make up for the lack of inward trust in God or the lack of true reverence for Him. Christ did not come to encourage the hypocrites in their sinful ways. For if He did, the Pharisees wouldn’t have dragged Him to His death.

But this is also the step that may require the most communication within multiple parts of yourself and God. This is the position I often find myself deeply struggling with. I actually found the outward disciplines quite simple, though when I am convicted to forgive, to let go of control, to have hope in trials, to show compassion to my enemies, to cast my anxieties before the Lord…I am in constant warfare. My mind knows what is true and right. But my heart is consumed by the feelings I often find too complicated to understand.

So I go into battle. But I never leave out the Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes to abide within all believers and I have found out the hard way that I am not supposed to fight Him or to justify my ways to Him, but to partner with Him. For He is the One speaking life when I cannot. He is the One pointing me to what the reality of redemption looks like when I try to flirt with the chains of sin that bounded me in my past.

So for the one desiring practical applications; do not tell yourself that your feelings are dumb. Or pointless. For we are humans made to feel. Sometimes they are just out of proportion. But definitely do not convince yourself that “this is just how you are”. For the Spirit is the presence of God. The very embodiment of love, peace, and hope is within you. So be honest. Explain everything to the Lord. And then rest in His presence. Yes, literally sit in silence. I advise you to go somewhere you can see creation. For putting yourself in a position where you see the evidence of God’s power, beauty, and love plays a role in reminding your heart what your mind and the Holy Spirit know to be true.

And when you hear a word from the Lord; perhaps it is something just encouraging you to trust in God’s plan, act on it. Put it into action by believing it with your heart first, and then walking it out as you love on others.

Finding Peace When You Don’t Know Where God Is Leading You

We are bound to wrestle within ourselves and sometimes even against the ways God is guiding. But may we never forget the kind of God He is.

As I envision myself on that boat, with calm seas, unclear of the route I will be taking, I remain confident of the One leading me. Yet, I struggle. Yes, to not trust my heart at times. For it is but fearful of the uncertainty it was so used to living through before knowing Christ.

I must not attempt to take control, for I know that the Truth and the presence of the Lord are the only reasons the seas are calm.

My dear friend, do not get so distracted with the concerns in which your Heavenly Father has already resolved. Take a step back, recognize His pace is perfect. His blessings are not your first desire, rather, simply may His presence be more than enough for you.

What a strange position it is to not know if you can trust your heart, but may we still rejoice for we know the One who stays with us forever is oh so very faithful.

Thoughts to Consider:

What prevents you from bringing your doubts, concerns, or troubles to God? He is not angry nor annoyed, for He went to death and back for the chance that you might seek a relationship with Him.

Is there an area of your life that you have buried and masked with outward obedience to avoid the inward change that God is calling you to?

What part of your morning will you let be an intentional time to spend getting to know the presence of God? Set your alarm and find a place away from others.

Consider the impact and love you could have with others if you began living in the reality the Holy Spirit longs for you to see.

“Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life.” – Psalm 143:8

The Significance of Being Teachable

bible, christian, lifestyle

“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled.” John 14:25-27

I was on a run today and a car was coming down the same road. Immediately, a panic went on in my mind…”Move”, “Turn at the street just before they pass”, “Fix your posture”, “Run faster”. These were all the thoughts that raced through my mind as they always tend to when I encounter literally anyone while running outside. Not out of fear for my safety, but because of my fear of judgment.

It has been years since I have considered myself as someone who is fit, or conditioned enough to run a mile or two. But recently I have taken up the challenge of caring for my physical health with the same intention and discipline I put towards my spiritual health. It is very much a work in progress, but one of the biggest struggles I have faced has not been the actual physical part of it at all. Yes, my body hurts after and sometimes I rather just lay in bed, but what takes the most effort out of me is not caring about the people who drive or run by me.

But today was different. Today, I didn’t stop. I didn’t turn at the nearest road. I may have put my head down and pulled the bill of my hat a little lower, but I continued down the road that the car was driving on. Despite it feeling like they took 20 years to pass me, I kept going.

It was the first time since I have been running that my route has not been changed or cut short because of people driving or running down the same street I was planning on going down. I ran 1.01 miles today – without a single detour.

The thoughts I stated above surely flooded my mind, but not enough to drown out this one thought in particular: “I am here to please God, and to care for what He cares for.” That being, in that specific moment, the strengthening of my body, also known as His temple…something I have neglected for years.

As I have been reading through the Gospel of John recently, this verse stood out to me a lot. It somewhat summarized the pattern I have been noticing in the chapters prior; to live for Christ is to die to the flesh. To this world. To everything that does not glorify Him or encourage our obedience to His greatest command of loving others.

John 14:25-27 was spoken as Jesus was still on earth. This was told to people who physically saw Him, but it was written too for those who He knew would not have that opportunity. It was written in a way that, I believe, perfectly articulates this concept: To the end of the age, we are His.

To belong is to be a part of His family. To be fully known and fully loved. There is great significance in us being His.

But there is also a great trouble for humanity when attempting to live in that truth. It costs us the world.

The world that everyone says we need. It is what claims to offer the best of the best. The most fulfillment. The place we are supposed to find our purpose. The riches of materials, the public attention, and the ladder to the biggest reputation is what we hunger for. But friend, it is also the death of us. For after spending every breath on what is advertised, we still come short. Time cuts us off before we can reach enough.

Why is it then that we continue falling for the world’s lie? I wish I could tell you more reason beyond the fact that we are broken humans seeking immediate satisfaction. No one is immune to this temptation around us. And yet Jesus still claims we can live in peace, and unafraid. (v. 27)

The beauty of being fully known by God is being understood in our shortcomings. He is not calling us to perfection. He is calling us to let the Spirit change us.

Verse 26 says, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.”

We are to be life-long learners. Receptive to the transforming of the Spirit, and humble enough to let Him remind us of the truth Christ spoke. I love that it says “remind“. This is evidence of God recognizing our human limitations, as we often forget His truth or allow the voices of the world to be louder. Yet I want to be clear; He is understanding our flaws, but not condoning them. For if it were not a problem, there would be no need to redirect us on the right things.

God understands how we are and He sees us through the lens of perfect love. He looks at us and desires a real relationship.

But unfortunately, so often, we fall in the trap of the spiritual attacks on our minds. With every detour I took during my past runs, I allowed myself to be consumed by the pressures of this world. Of what I thought was most important. So important in fact, that I abandoned the pursuit of caring for the body God gave me because I was scared of the judgment of those around me because….”What if they thought I wasn’t toned enough?” “What if they laughed at me because my pace is over 11 minutes per mile?” “What if they thought my outfit looked goofy?”

What if. Two simple words that can transform the direction one follows in their lives despite all truth. So how then does one hold fast when the doubts, fears, and lies are so very loud?

Well, praise God for John 15.

Here we come across a “how-to” for all Jesus had been discussing previously. In the analogy of a vine and fruit, He shows us that abiding is our “how”. It is not about perfection, but His presence. How we find this peace and freedom from fear is through the consistent, intentional connection with God. Like a fruit grows and fulfills its purpose from an overflow of nutrients taken in, we too fulfill our purpose and live a life experiencing His truth through a growing relationship with the great Giver Himself.

Through the Holy Spirit, our Advocate (John 24:26), we are given an incredible opportunity. The blessing of loving direction. His guidance isn’t always the easiest to follow. Sometimes we don’t understand it for months. But when we do understand the character of God as loving, it gives us the courage and hope to take the steps of faith that the Spirit is calling us to make.

Before I followed Jesus, I was completely consumed in what the world considered worth my attention and devotion. There was no mental battle. It was simply a mission to try to be good enough. Now that I have come to know the character and ways of Jesus, I find myself in countless arguments between my head and heart. I used to think that was a terrible position to be in, but as I wrestle more, I find it easier to hope.

My dear friend, recognizing the character of God and the endless stretches He makes to reach you is the beginning of a life where His grace, mercy, love, compassion, forgiveness, and hope is your reality. You do not have to live in shame. You do not have to keep striving to please a world your Savior was brutally rejected by. You have a divine purpose. And as tough as the war in your mind may feel, you have an Advocate fighting for you to see the truth. You have a Heavenly Father who longs for you to realize that to the end of the age, you are His.

Thoughts to Consider:

Would you consider yourself a teachable and humble person in regards to the conviction of the Holy Spirit? How so?

What is an area in your life that you typically fall into the world’s temptation? Mental or physical.

How can you make a practical change in your life that points you back to God when you are in difficult trials?

Consider the way you can exhibit Christ more if you were to let go of your strongholds in the world and submit to His truth.

“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled.” John 14:25-27

April Musings: The Cost of Misunderstanding in Faith

bible, christian, easter, spiritual formation

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” – Luke 23:34

“Does that make sense?”…is surely one of the sayings those around me hear quite often.

As much as I love words and on certain topics, I can speak a lot, I select my words very intentionally and carefully. Not because I want to sound smart or fancy, but because I believe each and every word either glorifies myself or God. Scripture’s description of people who blabber has convicted me immensely over the last couple years.

Nonetheless, despite my effort to produce the most clear statements or questions, I find myself longing for the assurance of being understood.

I never really noticed this until I had been teaching and my students would get frustrated with my extended pauses as I searched for the right words to say and then asked if all made sense. Though they see boredom in the silence, deep down, I know I spared them valuable time being wasted on listening to words I would have to restate in countless other ways as I pressed my brain to communicate clearly without any order.

Though some appreciate the intentionality, others have yet to see the point, and in fact still demand immediate satisfaction. They demand knowledge without giving room for understanding. For I cannot begin to explain how often someone has told me to inform them of something just to be able to claim they are in “the know”. Not knowing the value, worth, or purpose of the information received, they are still somehow content.

And unfortunately, I am not just referring to children I have met. Even grown adults I know seem driven by a hunger of pride, pressuring them to run with information they do not understand.

For some reason this past week or so my heart has felt heavy towards many people I spoke with because I felt my words went in one ear and out the other. I couldn’t quite grasp why it affected me more recently, as this is something I have grown used to. But it really hurt this last few weeks.

I never found out why it was more painful, but I did find out, or at least a partial reason as to why it grieves me when I am not understood.

In the rising conflict of Jesus’ life, we see a little story discussed in Mark that hints to how the character of God is.

In a town called Bethany, Jesus and the disciples were gathering for a meal at a man named Simon’s house. As they were eating, a woman came in with a very expensive jar of perfume. Surely, one of her most valuable possessions. Yet, without hesitation before the Messiah, she broke the jar and anointed Jesus by pouring it over him.

Immediately, she was judged. Not by Jesus, but by his companions. Those who have walked with him and followed him for roughly three years now, were annoyed at what she had just done. “Why is this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” they scolded her (v. 4-5).

Though that statement has some good intention, Jesus expresses something critical here.

He responded, “She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the Gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” (v. 8-9).

Around Jesus in this moment were two types of people. One who understood what He had been teaching them and foreshadowing, and one group who heard all He had said, but did not understand it.

As we look through Scripture, we see Jesus is gentle, humble, loving, merciful, forgiving, compassionate, truthful, and just. And we see prophetic word of what He came to do way before He even walked this earth. Yet somehow, though all that information was received in the heads of the disciples, they were slow to comprehend what was coming.

Now I am not saying they didn’t understand any thing He taught, but it is clear in this account that they were not aware of the cost Christ was going to cover for them. It was worth everything. And that woman who gave up her time, resources, and pride revealed what Jesus wanted us to understand.

Nothing, no reputation or material thing is worth more than Him, nor should anything be held from being offered for Him.

In our lives now, that truth is the same, though it may look different for us. I am not telling you to smash your Miss Dior perfume or Sauvage cologne and pour it out, but I am encouraging you to assess your greatest possessions, dreams, and talents and consider if you have cast them to the Lord, willing to let Him use them or take them away in any manner He pleases.

This woman was rebuked by the disciples, those who were supposed to reflect God’s gentle spirit, and yet she did not give up. In fact, she let her actions speak for her devotion to Jesus. Why? Because she understood Him.

When I think of Jesus in this moment, I can’t help but imagine He is a little bit sad that after everything, his closest friends still did not understand what was to come.

This is the very moment in Mark that I realized why we grow weary when our words are not given time to be processed. If anyone lived a life where every word they spoke had great purpose, it was Jesus Christ. Yet He was misunderstood by so many, so often.

That was it. Perhaps why my heart was so down recently was because of my lack of noticing how much God just seeks understanding. Not for pride, but because He knows what is best. He knows what will lead us to eternity with Him. And He knows what we do now matters beyond the so many decades we are walking this earth.

It was then that I realized sometimes we long for things and get frustrated, expecting to receive certain things we do not even give to God.

As I have mentioned in my past blogs, I began writing my prayers last, and I believe one struggle I still face often is the rushing of “listening time”. As I write, I am thinking and saying all I desire to God, though once I put the period after “amen”, I find myself giving little time for allowing God to help me truly understand Him and His ways more deeply.

But what a blessing it is to have a merciful God.

My spirit grieved, perhaps because the Holy Spirit wanted me to see that I long for the very thing I sometimes refuse to give God time for. Understanding is something that comes only with intentionality.

Today is Good Friday. As I was praying about what to write for this blog, truly I couldn’t think of how to approach this day or even mention it. Especially, since some of you may read this at a later time.

Though I have just been reminded of something I believe can add to our understanding of who God is.

In Luke 23:34, Jesus had just been crucified and beaten. This was a time I would deem justifiable for Him to be angry or disappointed at those who hurt and mocked Him. But thank the Lord, He has a more merciful heart than me. Of all the things He could have said, Jesus cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Read that again.

“They” is referring to the ones who put Him there. Not just physically, but because of their sin. That means…us to.

Each and every one of the sins we commit point back to the cross and why we needed Jesus to endure it. But not one of them stopped Him from following through…

My dear friend, what more could we ask from a God than one driven by love to endure the consequences of our actions all because we let pride move us rather than seeking understanding.

We didn’t understand how obeying Him in the garden was more important than power. We didn’t understand His desire for us to be free and together with Him in the Exodus. We didn’t understand serving Him was more important than all our possessions, our dreams, our reputation when He walked this earth. And even still today, we struggle to understand the value of the cross and the grave He overcame for us.

He didn’t go through that just so we could laugh together. Nor that we could walk around with a title that sets us apart from others. Jesus Christ came, suffered, loved, served, died, and rose so that we may have eternal communion with Him. That our lives may be a living sacrifice to Him and our eternity may be rich with His love and grace.

There is no middle ground or casual Christianity. Perhaps we must begin seeking a greater understanding of what a life – and I am referring to every breath from salvation to your death – looks like when Christ is truly the Lord over everything else in your world.

I pray you begin to understand Jesus more deeply so that nothing is considered more great in your life than Him.

Thoughts to Consider:

Do you make room in your life to stop the talking and find rest in seeking knowledge so that you can focus on truly understanding who God is and what matters most?

What are the things you hold onto that may be preventing your quiet time or intentional longing for grasping the purpose of God’s call in your life?

How can you begin implementing a time focused on understanding Him in your daily routine?

Consider the weight of His sacrifice for you and how all good things we desire first come from the perfect portion of desires in God.

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” – Luke 23:34

March Musings – On Colossians and Gratitude

christian, spiritual formation

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” – Colossians 4:2

We hear the concept of thankfulness a lot in the Church. Gratitude is no unfamiliar term for the Christian who has experienced nearly any worship service recently. But as I have been studying Colossians, I have some new insights on this practice.

As someone who finds it easier to see the glass half empty, thanksgiving isn’t the first thought that pops in my head during any given day. In fact, most days begin with frustration towards my alarm clock ringing at ungodly hours in the morning. Nonetheless, I have found it to be more important than I had originally thought.

I want to place these terms in your mind before going on: Grace. Thankfulness. Peace. Freedom.

In the beginning of Colossians, we see prayer tied together with thanksgiving. Paul begins his letter with the mention of the gratitude he expresses in his prayer life for the believers in Colossae. We then move on and see it again in reference to the way they ought to act towards the Father for the inheritance of the Holy Spirit (v. 12).

This is no accidental pattern. Paul was aware of something I myself often forget: God owes us nothing, yet He gave us everything. The way we act should flow from the response of God’s love in our hearts. So if we begin recognizing all God has done for us, it should be impossible for thanksgiving to NOT flow from our words, actions, and thoughts.

However, we are human. This is why, I believe, Paul mentioned the prayer he continued to pray over the believers in verses 9-11 saying, “We continuously ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience.”

This prayer, I like to think, is partly because Paul was aware of our lack of understanding towards God’s grace. Grace is a beautiful thing. I wouldn’t have included in my blog’s name if I didn’t think it held any significance. However, I will admit, it isn’t the easiest term to move from our heads to our hearts.

What I mean by this, is that grace, or undeserved kindness, is often thrown around in conversation or on inspiration mugs and journals, yet misunderstood in bridge between our mind and heart. What we see in this very first chapter alone, is that humanity has a problem with follow through. The true Gospel has been shared and heard by countless, yet what reveals the difference between hearing it and believing it is the fruit we produce.

Fruit is often taught as the actions we are compelled to do based on the seeds we are cultivating inside of us. I wholeheartedly believe this to be true, but I would argue it includes something else as well. Something I haven’t felt great conviction for until recently.

This section of Colossians 1 brings up the Spirit and the way He redirects us to do things that glorify God. Yet I have found it also is referring to the way we understand salvation.

Morton Kelsey, in his book “Reaching”, discusses that humanity can tend to look at salvation as a path to eternity, yet dismiss the reality that it also brings freedom from what aims to kill us (spiritually). We look at this broken world, and see the hurting people around us and choose to do one of two things: accept it or claim it as discipline from God. Yet that would be completely unlike the God of the Bible, to inflict evil on humanity, for evil was the very thing He endured the cross for to rise over three days later. Our God, rather, “can use the afflictions of evil to work good, but a loving God does not send evil.” (Kelsey)

This is more relevant than I thought as I realized Colossians encourages a seeking attitude towards the Father, the Holy Spirit, and the freedom Christ gave us so that we may be able to truly live in grace.

It is no coincidence Paul begins and ends speaking grace over them. For if you cannot understand grace, God’s grace, you will continue striving for it all your life. Chasing it rather than God Himself.

So, we come to the point of verse 13.

It reads, “For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

The sacrifice of Christ was to reconcile us to Him for eternity, yes, but it was also to give us the opportunity to live for God without being bound by the chains of our sin. Grace was given, and that includes the way we are free to walk in. That being, peace.

In the latter part of Colossians we see our new call to be peace-makers. Acting in love and living a life where we allow Christ’s sacrifice to be enough for our sin. For until that truth moves from our heads to our hearts, we will but always walk with unnecessary burdens and allow God’s desires and direction for us be affected by the weight of chains God already broke.

For longer than I can remember, I have struggled with an anxious and downcast heart that I am often incapable to explaining. This has prevented a lot of growth towards God, not because of Him, but the lies I have caved into and gave the power to cripple me. Yet as I struggle still, I have found bits of Truth that have proved the complete victory Christ claimed over the powers that are seeking to kill me. This, I believe is part of the truth Paul is getting at here.

We so often become content with the suffering world that we neglect the freedom that comes with Christ in the here and now. Our God is a healing God. He is a loving God. He is a peaceful God. And until we recognize that truth and allow it to absorb into our heart and soul, we won’t understand the reason we ought to be thankful in all circumstances.

The verse I highlighted at the beginning of this blog was not discussed, but I wanted you to read it because I believe it is the way in which we come to a place, confident of the new life God offers through Jesus. Prayer is our direct line to the God who loves us beyond our comprehension. Though we must seek a place of total dependency on Him for our lives to take in and pour out true love, peace, and grace to others.

My dear friend, our joy does not have to begin when we reach eternity. The hope we believe in has a name. That hope, Jesus, is calling us to a new life right now. For all we find to be threatening to our spirit, He has already defeated. Nothing, my friend, can separate you from His love. So, I ask, when will you decide gratitude is more than just a good lyric in a song, and begin letting it be what your life sings out each and every moment of your days?

Thoughts to Consider:

Is thankfulness something you find easy to practice every day?

How can you practically discipline yourself to live in gratitude?

What are the situations in your life you find harder to be thankful during?

Consider if we followed the words of the great, Charlie Brown, “What if, today, we were grateful for everything?”

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” – Colossians 4:2