I Am Challenged #1

It’s not wrong to feel fear.  It IS wrong to let that fear have the last word in your life. The people who accomplish the most astounding things for God’s glory aren’t the people who feel the least fear.  Often they’re the ones who deal with the most intense fear.  But instead of letting that fear disable their dreams, they start increasing their capacity for faith.  Steven Furtick

 

It’s all about perspective i think.  How BIG is God to you?  How POWERFUL is God to you?  The BIGGER He is the more we will trust Him and the more we will step out.  The more it’s all about Him and His power empowering us the more we’ll step out and be a jar of clay for Him to demonstrate His love and power through. The more we realize that it’s His power through us the more we’ll step out in faith to do the works He has called us to do.  The more we trust Him and have faith in HIS ABLENESS the more we’ll really live the adventure we’re called to live.

E100: 26b – WAR ZONE

These are the nations the lord left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan (he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience): the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in the Lebanon mountains from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo Hamath.They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the lord’s commands, which he had given their ancestors through Moses.  Judges 3:1-4

 

One reason God let Israel’s enemies stay in the Promised Land was so that each new generation would learn to fight … in the heat of the battle.
God allows struggles in our lives not to punish us but to give us the opportunity to develop our character.  Patience isn’t learned when times are peaceful. Patience is learned in times of stress.

 

The Lord used the Canaanites to test and build Israel. They taught the future generations about warfare. They also tested their loyalty to God. Whenever times were good, they drifted and lost their faith. God would allow them to be overrun by their enemies until Israel cried out for deliverance. Being a merciful and loving Father, He would deliver them. We will endure many trials in life in order to build up our faith. When we share our testimony of what God did for us during the trial, He is glorified. youversion note

 

As Christians we have victory over the enemy because of Jesus – He came to destroy the works of the devil.  We live in a war zone.  we are saved and sent.  redeemed and recruited.  we are part of God’s glorious plan to see people come to know Him.   anyone that wants to be used by God will face contention and battle.  the war zone touches every area of our life.  the great strategy of the enemy has always being the same, right from the beginning.  God isn’t who He says He is, and He doesn’t mean what He says.  He aims to distract and dissuade us from knowing God and living for Him.  he hates that we are children of God. 

 

his goal is the same as it was in the garden.  he exists to silence God’s message of hope and genuine relationship with His children.  don’t pick up the lies the enemy is putting down.  @stickyjesus

the enemy knows that if he can capture your thought life, everything else will soon tumble down around you.  Christ died to give you holiness, but the enemy aggressively and enthusiastically bets against your holiness before you’ve even had your first cup of coffee.  life on this side of heaven is hard.  @stickyjesus

 

but in this war we are not unarmed or weak.  we are not the losers.  we are children and heirs of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who one day will return and breathe upon the enemy and destroy him.  the enemy is defeated already at the cross.   we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to stand and overcome. 

 

God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.  Colossians 2:13-15

Greater is He in you than the one who is in the world.  1 john 4:4

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.   Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Ephesians 6:10-13

remember the cross and how it defeated the sin in your life for good.  you are no longer the underdog or a slave tot eh strongholds that left you helpless.  jesus came as your escape route from all of the things you fear.  @stickyjesus

 

part of the strategy we need as christians to have victory – in the big picture – and in our own personal lives as we live out for jesus is to be intentional and aware.    we need to know we’re in a battle and that we are fully armed.  we need to know WHO we are serving and WHY.   we need to be watching and alert.

 

Be self- controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 peter 5:8

 

this isnt just a observance mode.  its not just a looking out for danger but its a choice to live our lives aware and living according to the Word of God.

every choice is a choice between light and darkness, between obedience and disobedience, between the flesh and the spirit, between the world and the Kingdom of God.  choose God.  choose obedience.  choose to pick up your cross and deny self and follow Jesus.  this is your offensive attack.  make choices to avoid evil.  make choices to not compromise.  make choices to overcome.

 

we also are in a war zone against ourselves:

 

1 Peter 2:11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.

Romans 8:5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

Romans 13:14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Galatians 5:16 [ Life by the Spirit ] So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Galatians 5:17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.

Galatians 5:24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

 

the good thing in this war is that Jesus has won this victory too.

we are fallen flawed sinful humans but in that state of rebellion Christ died for us to make us holy, righteous, innocent and acceptable.

 

2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Colossians 1:19-22 God himself was pleased to live fully in his Son. And God was pleased for him to make peace by sacrificing his blood on the cross, so that all beings in heaven and on earth would be brought back to God. You used to be far from God. Your thoughts made you his enemies, and you did evil things. But his Son became a human and died. So God made peace with you, and now he lets you stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent.

Ephesians 2:1-9 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,  in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions— it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith— and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no-one can boast.

 

Just as the israelites had to clear the land of their enemies so in my life i am clearing the land, or allowing Jesus in me to clear the land of my faults and selfishness and sin. 

Jesus makes us righteous and by the work of the Holy Spirit in us He transforms us and conforms us into the image of Jesus, into the character of Jesus, into the holiness of Jesus.  Because of His great love for us He has rescued us and now empowers us to live obedient lives, surrendering to His will and ways.  We are forgiven and cleansed and God’s mercies are new every morning. 

Doing What I Can Do

have you ever been in one of those situations where you wish you could help but the situation is too big?

my family are going through “something” at the moment that doesn’t directly affect me but directly affects my sister and parents and will in fact change their lives from this point onwards.

dad called last week to let me know the news and i could tell by his voice that something was up. 

its been a good time to pray.

and as it has unfolded i realized there is something i can do.

in fact something i am gifted in.

i can encourage.

i can send texts saying “hang in there” and let them know i am praying

i can send cards.

i can phone and just support.

and in fact as its been unfolding the encouragement has been a real lifeline to my sister and parents.

its making a difference.

giving courage.

our words can speak hope and life and compassion and support and love and grace.

i’m glad i can do something.

i’m glad God gave me this gift.

E100: 26 – THE NEXT GENERATION

After Joshua had dismissed the Israelites, they went to take possession of the land, each to their own inheritance.  The people served the lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the lord had done for Israel.  Judges 2:6-7

 

 

earlier in our E100 readings, in joshua, we were reminded how important it is to REMEMBER and how important it is also to PASS ON that faith and the great things of God onto the coming generations, so they also remember and have their own alive current faith.

 

Psalm 78:7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

Psalm 103:2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits

Psalm 119:93 I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.

Psalm 77:11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

Psalm 53:5-7 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

Psalm 78:9-11, 41-43 The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned back on the day of battle; they did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his law. They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them.  Again and again they put God to the test; they vexed the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember his power— the day he redeemed them from the oppressor, the day he displayed his miraculous signs in Egypt, his wonders in the region of Zoan.

 

 

many times also in psalms it instructs us to make known the great things of God and His reality and goodness to our children and the generations following us – to pass onto the NEXT GENERATION what we know about God to be real.

 

Psalm 78:4 We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.

Psalm 78:5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so that the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.

Psalm 71:18 Even when I am old and grey, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.

Psalm 79:13 Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you for ever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise

Psalm 102:18 Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD:

Psalm 145:4 One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.

 

something that has been impressed upon my spirit for a few years now is the intentional decision to REMEMBER – to NOT forget the great things God has done, the prayers He has answered, the encounters I’ve had, the things He has spoken, the wisdom He has revealed, the blessings He has blest us with.  The Israelites, though they saw the red sea parted, though they saw the great deliverance from Egypt, though they had the miracles of mana and quail… they forgot God.  though the had tangible visible evidence – a firey column by night and cloud by day to guide them… they forgot Him.  and their forgetfulness resulted in defeat and disobedience.  because they did not make God a priority and remember His ways and who He is they allowed themselves to compromise. 

you will follow what is highest in your heart – self or God.

 

make it a priority to not forget Him.  spend time in the Word.  keep a journal or blog the great things He has done in your life.  stir up your memory – so that you may walk faithfully and have victory.  stir up your memory so you know your testimony and can pass it on, so you can pass on your life story – HIS STORY in our lives – to those coming after us, be it our children or younger people age wise at church or younger christians.  something pivotal that i believe caused growth in my own christian life was reading biographies and talking to people at my church about how God answered prayer or how they encountered God and how God was real in their life.  it made me hungry to know Him more and gave me determination to seek Him.

 

i read the beginning chapters of judges with a sense of sadness and pray that i would be faithful at passing on faith to my children and also the young adults at church that we minister to, that they would have their own relationship and faith in God, and that they would continue to walk with Him and their will be a legacy left from my life (not because i am great but because God is great!)  i pray that my life would demonstrate that God is real and that there would be evidence in my life that would promote faith and trust by others in God. 

i pray that those following me wouldn’t rest in my testimony but that they would see the great things of God with their own eyes.

E100: 25b – SEE

Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. Then the Lord said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.  When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in."  Joshua 6:1-5

 

 

the word i love in this passage is SEE

SEE I HAVE DELIVERED THE CITY TO YOU says God.

pre battle God says SEE

pre the walls falling God says SEE

pre victory God says SEE

 

i LOVE that!

 

what things in my life is God saying SEE about?

what things has He accomplished and promised for me to SEE

 

2 Corinthians 4:18  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Colossians 3:1  Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Ephesians 1:3  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

 

 

and yet though God had said SEE THE VICTORY joshua and the israelites still had to walk out in obedience to God in order to see the victory won. 

sometimes obedience and faith go hand in hand.  God promises and by faith we receive and have the victory but by obedience we receive it and experience that promise. 

 

 

Life is filled with challenges that test our determination and our faith in God.  there are cities to conquer, walls to overthrow, sin to overcome, relationships that are strained, temptation to resist, flaws and shortcomings that threaten to derail us.  we are our own worst enemies, wanting to follow God but wanting to satisfy our flesh.  Yay that we have victory and forgiveness and acceptance and righteousness through Christ Jesus, who calls us to walk the walk and to follow Him in the way we live our lives.  He begins by renewing our hearts, and then from that flows our behaviour.  We are saved by grace, and then we respond with obedience.

 

 

for joshua the outwalking, the process of winning the victory, also looked, maybe, honestly lets say BIZZARE to some people.  walk around the city, SILENTLY, for 6 days, then give a loud shout?  how would THAT work?  that’s not normal battle strategy? 

yet this was the PROCESS that God ordered.  

and joshua chose to obey it.  i wonder if everyone was happy with the plan?  i wonder if there were doubters or haters?  i wonder if there were people who thought they had a better way, a smarter way, a cooler way, a more efficient way…?  not to mention the retaliation and response from the people inside the walls.  choose to follow God.  remember, He is eternal and wise.  His ways are higher and He is omnipresent, omnipowerful, omniawesome.  He knows the beginning and the end. 

 

 

is God calling you to follow Him and choose His ways?  to do something “different” and out of the box?  to obey by seeing the unseen first rather than seeing an outward evidence?  The key is to keep trusting God, even if you don’t understand. There is no such thing as trusting God without unanswered questions, but when you push ahead, despite your doubts, He will build you up and make you strong.

 

 

this passage reminds me that God is faithful to His promises and He has the power to make any wall fall down, no matter how formidable it is.  it reminds me to trust Him and to follow His commands because His way is greater.

Jesus Christ gives me victory, He is my Saviour. 

The Loft Sessions – Bethel

 

the other day – as soon as it was available really – i got the new bethel worship album THE LOFT SESSIONS from itunes.

its a more acoustic album, with some more eclectic instruments and beautiful beautiful melodies.  it feels like authentic worship – real people, drawing close to our real God. 

i really love brian johnsons voice and of course jenn johnsons voice too. but the neat thing is that it is a team collaborative, there are songs sung by other worship artists from bethel.  each has their own flavour and heart. 

 

i think my favourite songs so far on it are:

 

COME TO ME, which was actually released in december – at a significant time for our family – which has just so sung into my heart and reassured me of God’s love and nearness, my strength in time of storms.   this song was the perfect answer to my hearts cry in our sorrow and listening to jenn johnson talk about the heart of the song – written for people who are facing difficult times – all around the world, be it personal tragedy or earthquakes or anything… God is with us… God is near… He invites us to Come.  my favourite bit is the part right at the end where she more free worships and it gets my heart every time.  this song will not leave my heart (or my playlist!) for a long time!

 

I am the Lord your God, I go before you now
I stand beside you, I’m all around you
Though you feel I’m far away, I’m closer than your breath
I am with you, more than you know
I am the Lord your peace, no evil will conquer you
Steady now your heart and mind, come into My rest
Oh, let your faith arise, lift up your weary head
I am with you wherever you go
Come to Me, I’m all you need. Come to Me, I’m everything
Come to Me, I’m all you need. Come to Me, I’m your everything
I am your anchor, in the wind and the waves
I am your steadfast, so don’t be afraid
Though your heart and flesh may fail you, I’m your faithful strength
I am with you wherever you go

 

 

ONE THING REMAINS, which was also on the BE LIFTED HIGH album from last year… though i much prefer this version and can so see it been such in our housegroup, it so proclaims the everlasting love of God towards us! 

Your love never fails, never gives up never runs out on me

In death, In life, I’m confident and
Covered by, the power of Your great love
My debt is paid, there’s nothing that
Can separate my heart from Your great love

 

 

WALK IN THE PROMISE – this line (In trust and dependence we walk in the promise of You, coming) reminds what its really about… Jesus.  His promise.  His kingdom.  it reminds me of a passage i read in 1 Peter 1 last night: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade— kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In THIS (the hope of Jesus return and His glory) you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”   There is just some great about declaring WE LIFT YOU UP in the midst of process and walking through and to something.  There is just something right about a song that encourages us to fix our eyes upon Jesus, not looking to the left or right, not giving up, not falling down, but holding on unswervingly to the hope we have in Christ our Lord and Saviour.

 

 

one of the songs i really like, but i don’t know if i would categorize it as worship (i think is just totally my way of thinking) is YOU KNOW ME… for me its more a song to remind and rewrite in our heart how great the love of God towards is… its more introspective than i would classify a worship song to be…  reminds me very much of psalm 139…

You have been and You will be
You have seen and You will see
You know when I rise and when I fall
When I come or go You see it all
You hung the stars and you move the sea, and still You know me
You know me Nothing is hidden from Your sight Wherever I go, You find me
You know every detail of my life You are God and You

 

 

one that has totally grown on me is YOU HAVE WON ME.  i esp esp esp love the last part because i love songs that declare the gospel. 

Love, you’ve shown me love By leaving your throne
By bleeding and dying on a cross That wonderful cross
That took all my guilt and sin away
Shout it out and lift up one voice in worship
Sing it out until all the earth can hear it
Jesus is alive and He saves, He rescues and saves

 

i love new worship… it freshes my prayer time and worship time towards God.  its like ben reed’s jedi mind trick with bible reading…

 

go on… download it… i dont think you’ll be disappointed.

 

E100: 25 – LIFT YOUR EYES

Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us or for our adversaries?" He said, "No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, "What has my lord to say to his servant?" The captain of the LORD’S host said to Joshua, "Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.  Joshua 5:13-15

 

Joshua lifted his eyes…

 

sometimes we need to lift our eyes from our circumstances and our feet and our hands (our works) and look UP to God.

 

in my night time reading i have just read a series of psalms that mention lifting our eyes:

 

Psalm 121:1 A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from?

Psalm 123:1 A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven.

2 Corinthians 4:18  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Colossians 3:1  Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

 

 

 

there is just “something” about lifting our eyes, about looking with a different perspective and vantage point. 

 

i will lift my eyes from my i cants, to God’s i can

i will lift my eyes from my limitations, to God’s nothing is impossible

i will lift my eyes from my flaws, to God’s gift of forgiveness and righteousness through Christ

i will lift my eyes from my loneliness, to God’s promise that He is with me

i will lift my eyes from my exhaustion, to God’s invitation to come

i will lift my eyes from my excuses, to God’s encouragement that i can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

 

 

Joshua lifted his eyes from the land around him with all its challenges and cities to overcome and people ready to oppose him.

He lifted his eyes and behold, there was the captain of the host – Jesus in pre-jesus flesh – GOD WITH HIM

 

“As the manna had now failed, the people always greatly addicted to incredulity, might have been led to imagine that God had now given them up, and would be no longer in their armies, had he not given them this strong assurance, that the Angel of his presence should be with them as the guide and protector of the whole camp; for Joshua undoubtedly informed them of the encouragement he had received from the captain of the Lord’s host. By this vision he showed them that their help came from himself, and that it was not by human might or power, but by the Lord of hosts, they were to have the victory over all their adversaries; and he gave them the most convincing proof of this in the miraculous destruction of Jericho. By this means he continued to keep them dependent on his arm alone, without which dependence the spirit of religion could not have been preserved among them.”  Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible

Worship Wednesday – I Need You More

i’m blest to be a SAHM – that means during the school term my days are freer to do church stuff and also to pray and seek God and stuff.  but it also means that during the school hols i am in mummy mode, active mummying.  which i dont mind at all.  i love (most of the time!) playing with my short ones and seeing them discover and laugh.  it means i HAVE to go to movies like the muppets (which i think i had the most enjoyment out of) and HAVE to make cool snacks and build huts and forts in the lounge and go to the beach and build sandcastles.  HAVE to. 

but it also means my head space is different in holiday time. 

as the beginning of things like housegroup kick off my head space isnt prepared or planned. 

but as i was making dinner tonight i had a whisper drop into my heart.  its a year to dream and a year to see dreams fulfilled. 

in the background this song, i need you more by jesus culture was playing and it also resonated with me. 

i need you more Lord, right here in Your presence is where i belong.

 

 

 

 

I need You more
More than yesterday
I need You Lord
More than words can say
I need You more
Than ever before
I need You Lord
I need You Lord
More than the air I breathe
More than the song I sing
More than the next heartbeat
More than anything
And Lord as time goes by
I’ll be by Your side
Cause I never want to go back
To my old life
Right here in Your presence
Is where I belong
This old broken heart
Has finally found a home
And I’ll never be alone

Matt Chandler ~ Pray and Do Not Lose Heart

Now there’s another piece here, and we have to talk about it, because it’s real life. He says he tells the parable for two reasons. He tells the parable so that we know we could always pray and should always pray, but He also says that we would pray and not lose heart.

Everyone of you would have a story where you really prayed, you really cried out to God and there was this thing that you wanted. It wasn’t a bad thing, it wasn’t selfish and it wasn’t, “Please God, let the Cowboys win tonight.” It wasn’t that kind of thing, but it was rich, weighty and it looked like it was tied to things that God would like. So we’ve prayed for a family member. We have prayed for the salvation of a friend. We have prayed for a sick loved one. We have cried out and asked God to work, and it just seems like it just hasn’t been answered and that He’s not listening. So we have a tendency to lose heart, we’re confused and maybe we even feel betrayed by God.

I think the reason that Jesus ends this text with “never the less will the Son of Man find faith on earth” is because we’re being let in on some really deep waters here. Here are the deep waters. We are simply far too ignorant to understand the will of God. We don’t have enough information and don’t have enough facts, so our role as children of God is to trust the sovereignty of God as it expands out so much farther than our own understanding. Now can I unpack for you why certain things happen and certain things don’t? I have warred on my knees, fasted, cried out and begged for the lives of certain people who are sick, and they went on home. And then I have plead, asked God and fasted for Him to rescue others, and He has healed them outright. Did I pray harder on one than the other? No. Did I want one more than the other? Not that I can think of. Were there just not enough people with me when I was praying? No, it was very similar.

So there is a mystery to prayer that we’re going to have to grow comfortable with. Is God sovereign? Over every cell in the universe. Over every atom that exists, He is sovereign. So why pray? Because God has ordained to accomplish His will through the prayers of the saints. So we join God and the work of God by asking God for what God has asked us to ask of Him.  Matt Chandler – Call To Pray

 

 

i thought this dovetailed nicely with the previous post on REAL LIFE FAITH

Real Life Faith

 

 

 

Have you every noticed that life isn’t simple?  or easy?  that there are obstacles and opportunties around us to challenge us and stretch us. 

that there are days when it is just plain knock down hard?

the other day my dad rung.  i could tell within 3 seconds that something was up.  it was in his voice.

after a few minutes small talk he got to the crunch. 

“ive got some sad news” he said. 

my first thought was to wonder who had died… “relax, no one has died” he answered without me voicing it.  always good to know. 

but there was so sad news and hard news for the family to process.

 

so i’ve been praying.  and trusting God.  and grateful that God speaks. 

 

This is God’s hope and word to me this week:

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  Hebrews 10:23

 

So how do we have faith in hard times?

How do we hold unswervingly to the hope we profess?

WHO do we have our faith in?

 

Luke 18:1-8 Jesus told his disciples a story about how they should keep on praying and never give up:

In a town there was once a judge who didn’t fear God or care about people. In that same town there was a widow who kept going to the judge and saying, “Make sure that I get fair treatment in court.” For a while the judge refused to do anything. Finally, he said to himself, “Even though I don’t fear God or care about people, I will help this widow because she keeps on bothering me. If I don’t help her, she will wear me out.” The Lord said: Think about what that crooked judge said. Won’t God protect his chosen ones who pray to him day and night? Won’t he be concerned for them? He will surely hurry and help them. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find on this earth anyone with faith?

 

The widow had FAITH in the judge that he would grant her justice if she persisted

The judge is NOT God

Who do we have faith in?

God

“Won’t God protect his chosen ones who pray to him day and night? Won’t he be concerned for them? He will surely hurry and help them.”

 

Okay what about all the times it seems that God is not answering our prayers?

 

God kept some of the bad guys in the land so that the Israelites would learn war – and learn faith in him.

Jdg 3:1 And the LORD had another reason for letting these enemies stay. The Israelites needed to learn how to fight in war, just as their ancestors had done. Each new generation would have to learn by fighting CEV

Jdg 3:1-2 And these are the nations which Jehovah left, to prove Israel by them, as many as had not known all the wars of Canaan; only that the generations of the sons of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least those who before knew nothing of it: MKJV

Psa 18:34 He teaches my hands to war, so that a bow of bronze is bent by my arms.

 

 

 

 

 

He is WITH US

 

Where is God in the hard times?

With us

Teaching us

Shaping us

Refining us.

Transforming us.

 

God with us, faithful always.

We can hold unswervingly to the hope we profess because our God is great and good and faithful and with us.

 

Romans 8:30 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be the First-born among many brothers.

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God.

 

Faith is all about a WHO – not about a what.

We put our faith in God.

Our faith grows as we learn more about who God is.

Sometimes I think we put God in the same box as the judge. Uncaring. Unlistening. Unjust.

But God is for you.

He freely gave you Jesus… will he not give you anything else….

Romans 8:31-32 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Truly He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

He loves you with an everlasting love.

He knows you – head hairs… every thought… every word… every day… every moment.

He loves to give. He is generous.

He hears our prayer.

He opened his throne room.

He made the way.

He calls us family.

He is faithful, always.

 

We have faith in the creator of the universe.

The one who breathed out the stars as Louie Giglio says.

 

There is this really cool passage near the end of Job where God is just “informing Job” about all the cool things HE can do… Job 38

It gives a picture of the majesty of God, the power of God, the in controlness of God…

 

Colossians 1:16-17 Everything was created by him, everything in heaven and on earth, everything seen and unseen, including all forces and powers, and all rulers and authorities. All things were created by God’s Son, and everything was made for him. God’s Son was before all else, and by him everything is held together.

 

You get the picture?

This is the one we have faith in.

When God appeared to Moses he called himself the I AM WHO I AM.

 

He unpacked it in Exodus 34.

Exodus 34:6-7I am the LORD God. I am merciful and very patient with my people. I show great love, and I can be trusted. I keep my promises to my people forever, but I also punish anyone who sins. When people sin, I punish them and their children, and also their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”

 

In the hard times we need to remember who God is. This gives us faith. This keeps us going. This keeps us putting one foot in front of the other and saying Yes God – I trust in you. In the hard times we need to shoot down the doubts and the fears and the worries and answer all the questions we have on the inside with the answers God gives – the promise that he is with us and for us and loves us.

 

It is a challenge to have faith. Life is hard. Things happen. But remember WHO your faith is in. Does he not seem big enough to work it out? To know what is going on? And to walk with you through the hard time, making good come out of it.