Jennifer Slattery's Blog, page 5

How Aligned am i with the heart of God

I’ve read numerous posts and articles of late urging Christ-followers to vote according to their convictions. And in the comments, I often see individuals who, perhaps fueled by one too many cups of coffee, use the encouragement as an opportunity to instigate an argument. Each time I see this, I’m both discouraged and convicted, as there’s a part of me tempted to join in.

I’ve been known to have quite heated mental debates I’m sure would wow you all with my brilliance. Actually, I’m certain the opposite would occur—that my adding to the noise would only cause those who disagree to become more committed to their stance and determined to convince me of it. I know this from experience. Early in my faith journey, I wasted hours, forfeiting my peace in the process, trying to argue someone to my position.

Do you want to know how many times I was successful?

Zero.

Do you want to know how many times this furthered the gospel?

Zero.

Do you want to know how many times I walked away with the sense that I’d grieved God’s heart and played into the devil’s schemes?

Yeah …

 That grieved me more than any ideology, behavior, or political movement with which I disagreed. This is why, while I will certainly do my best to vote by my convictions this season, I hope and pray I will speak, act and think according to my convictions as well—according to the heart of Christ.

Here are my personal guard rails, not that I always remain within them. They do, however, reveal my goals and the maturity I wish to reach.

If my words convey more anger and hostility than gentleness, love and grace, I’ve stepped away from the heart of Christ.

I know this because Scripture states, “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17, NIV).

If I spend more time arguing on social media than reaching out to the hurting, the marginalized, and oppressed, than I’ve stepped away from Christ’s heart.

I know this because Scripture says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27, NIV).

If I’ve come to see people as issues and as one demographic rather than individuals, I’ve stepped further from Christ’s heart.

I know this because of Psalm 139:13, which, speaking of God, applies to everyone I encounter or read about. This verse states, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”

If I’m more concerned with who occupies the oval office and spend more time talking and fretting about our nation’s politics, than I do investing in the soul-health of my neighbors, I’ve stepped away from Christ’s heart.

I know this because Scripture tells me “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, NIV, emphasis mine).

If I’m more grieved over someone else’s sin than I am my own, I’ve stepped away from the heart of Christ.

I know this because Jesus continually asks me, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” (Mark 7:3, NIV). May I not act like the Pharisee who thanked the Lord that he wasn’t like the obvious “sinner” he saw in the temple.

When pride causes me to think I’m more godly than I am, may I remember Christ’s words regarding these two men: “I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Luke 18:14, NLT).

If I can express all the reasons I disagree with certain political stances but don’t know my neighbors, I’ve stepped away from the heart of Christ.

I know this because Jesus commanded me to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations …” (Matthew 28:19, NIV). And His model of discipleship was life-on-life relationship.

If I’m more prone to speak words of condemnation than invitations to grace, I’ve stepped away from Christ’s heart.

I know this because Jesus declared, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:17, NIV).

If I’m more focused on what I want to say than on hearing and understanding the heart of others, I’ve stepped further from Christ’s heart.

I know this because Scripture states, “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19, NIV).

If I name call and use my words to attack others, I’ve stepped outside the heart of Christ.

I know this because Scripture states, “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness” (James 3:9, NIV).

If I place more security in who leads our nation, my state, or my city than I do in the power and authority of Christ, I’ve stepped away from His heart.

I know this because Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18, NIV), assuring me that He retains full control, always.

And most convicting, if I’m not willing to lay down my life for those who think, speak, and act differently than I do, then I’ve stepped away from the heart of Christ.

I know this because, while hanging from the cross, above the Roman authorities who worshiped idols, oppressed the people, and practiced infanticide, and hanging above the Pharisees who used religion for personal gain, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34, NIV).

If this post resonated with you at all, I encourage you to listen to next Friday’s Your Daily Bible Verse podcast episode, and to catch my upcoming conversation with YDBV team member Reverend Kyle Norman on the Your Daily Bible Verse GodTube channel. (I expect that video to publish on the channel next Saturday.)

You might also enjoy my conversation with James Spencer, President of the D.L. Moody Center. You can listen HERE.

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

When we approach others from a place of assumption

I’ve been hurt by people who’ve formed assumptions regarding my pain. I’ve also wounded others by reacting the same way. Sometimes, this comes from a desire to “fix” a loved one’s problem. Other times, I’ve interpreted their words and behavior through my insecurities and the unhealed places in my soul. Regardless the reason, these tendencies inevitably create distance, rather than connection, and often, increased hurt for everyone involved.   

I reflected upon some of my most glaring regrets recently while reading about all Kristina Kuzmic and her family endured when her teenage son developed significant depression. I was awed and convicted by the way she remained gently present, sought help to learn how best to love him, and intentionally maintained an attitude of curiosity rather than assumption.

While she deeply grieved her son’s pain, she didn’t assign motive to his behavior (such as, he’s just lazy or rebellious). She also didn’t make it about herself.

Although I’m much better than I used to be, I struggle in both these areas. I tend to view “biting” behavior (like that which a frightened puppy exhibits) or withdrawal as rejection. This, in turn, results in my defensiveness and self-protection rather than gentleness and love.

I’m reminded of Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:3-5, when He said, 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

This passage tells me that, in all situations and at all times, my sight is distorted. Sin, past wounding, and spiritual deception taint my perspective, which, inevitably, causes me to inflict pain. (Imagine an ophthalmologist attempting cataract surgery with blurred vision!) When, however, I invite God to reveal, then heal and remove, the plank lodged in my figurative eye (symbolic of my soul), I see more clearly how to help my brother, or husband, or child, or friend, with their speck.

When I do that, I find, more often than not, that God’s responsible for removing my loved one’s speck, and He knows precisely the best way to do so. My role is to simply remain present, and to listen with curiosity, not assumption.

https://videopress.com/v/Q8oIrP8P?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

If you someone you love is suffering, I encourage you to catch that episode for important insights regarding how best to help, not harm. And may we all, daily, invite God to remove our planks so that we don’t hurt others in our blinded state. May He give us the clear vision that enables us to love with equal parts grace and truth, with hearts purified, filled, and led by our Lord.  

If this post resonated with you, I encourage you to listen to the latest Faith Over Fear podcast episode in which I interview comedian Kristina Kuzmic about one of the most painful seasons of her life. Find it below.

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

Facing the Fear of an Unknown future – Guest post by Shirley Quiring Mozena

My husband Bill lay dying in the dim light with his eyes closed. A tube in his mouth, taped securely to his face, snaked down to his windpipe.

I sat beside his bed, feeling the weight of forty years of memories. Joy at the births of our children. Sadness when we lost our baby girl. Memories of early battles in our marriage, and of the present chronic disease assaulting Bill’s body. I also remembered one of my greatest fears: when I rappelled down Rooster Rock, a basalt monolith in the Columbia River Gorge.

We had sat there on top of that rock, enjoying the view. A soft breeze that smelled like honey ruffled my hair. The bright blue sky contrasted with the newly sprouted lime-green leaves and dark green firs. All too soon it was time to go back down, but it was a long way to the bottom.

I looked nervously at Bill. Going down meant rappelling down. I dreaded this, though I had forced myself to do it many times before.

This was the tallest rock I had ever tried to rappel off, the double rope heavy in my hands. But I was ready to go. “Just lean back, sweetheart,” Bill said. “You’ll be okay. Trust me. Trust the rope and protection.”

So scared, I cried out, “I can’t do this!”

“Put your right hand behind your back and keep the brake on. You know how to do it.”

I held my breath and tilted backward. The chain adjusted itself to the rappel rope and jolted me with a clunk. I began to ease myself down, just inches from the rock-face. “Okay, okay. I’m doing it. Here I go.” And down I went, talking out loud, and asking Jesus to help me until I finally landed safely at the foot of the rock.

Now I was facing the time for our final goodbye. I knew it would be the last time I would talk to Bill here on earth. Moments later, the nurse said, “He’s gone.”

Going on without my husband of forty years was like looking down a steep rock with no one to set up protection for my descent. A life without my hero, the father of my children. I prayed God would get me through this loss, greater than any calamity I’d ever experienced.

During the sleepless nights that followed, I remembered Bible verses I’d memorized as a young child. They reminded me I was in the valley of the shadow of death, yet I knew Bill was dwelling “in the house of the Lord” (Psalm 23:6 NIV).

Just as I had trusted Bill to protect me while I climbed, I also trust God to provide, protect, and comfort me, whatever the situation. When I battle those fears of loneliness, sickness, and death, it is trust in the Maker of mountains that allays my fears.

Psalm 124:8 says, “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (NIV). It is God who will help us face every challenge. For he is with us (Matthew 1:23). And we can trust in him.

Get to Know Shirley Quiring Mozena:

About the author: Shirley Quiring Mozena is a retreat speaker and national speaker for Stonecroft Ministries. She has three-hundred-plus followers who read her weekly blog on encouragement and hope, and she has published articles in the newspaper and in Christian publications. Shirley has a presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. Her website includes her blogs and speaking schedule: http://www.shirleymozena.com.

Check Out Her Release, A Trustworthy Anchor: God’s Hope and Encouragement in the Storms of Life:

Shirley’s books include: Second Chances (at Life and Love, with Hope), Beyond Second Chances: Heartbreak to Joy, (finalists for 2023 Cascade Christian Writer Awards). With her husband Jim, she co-authored Second Chance at Love: A Practical Guide to Remarriage after Loss (a finalist for both 2023 Cascade Christian Writers and 2024 Golden Scroll). Look for her new 40-day devotional book, A Trustworthy Anchor: God’s Hope & Encouragement in the Storms of Life, in September 2024. Visit her website at: shirleymozena.com/books.

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

The Armor of a Christ-Centered Identity

(This first published on February 18, 2021.)

As we grow in Christ, we begin to discover who we truly are, and our actions necessarily follow. Living deeply rooted in our Christ-centered identity does much more than simply build our confidence. It also greatly impacts how we respond to others and provides a powerful insulator against sin. In each moment, we are living as a deeply loved child of God, held secure by Christ, or as an orphan forced to fight through life on our own. We can act as if we have to prove ourselves, or we can rest in who we are, all God’s done, and all He’s promised yet to do.

When I first sensed God calling me into ministry, I was plagued by insecurity. While I knew, intellectually, God alone was my Savior and Lord, I routinely lived as if I held those titles. My mental role reversal caused me to strive rather than surrender and to see every challenge as a threat instead of opportunities to experience God’s care. I responded to financial and health threats in a similar manner—acting as if abandoned and forced to navigate a harsh world on my own.

This inevitably led to unloving, harsh, and self-centered behavior that hurt others and hindered my intimacy with Christ. Increased freedom came when I progressively found myself in Him.

I belonged to Christ, purchased with His very life. To free me from hell, yes, but also to bridge the gap my sin had wedged between us. In other words, the God of all creation, of infinite wisdom and power, suffered and died to forge an intimate, inseparable, soul-deep bond with me. To turn one of His enemies into His adopted child.

I’m never alone. My Daddy, who’s bigger and greater than anything that could ever come against me, stands ready to come to my aid.

No matter the circumstance or threat, I can relax, knowing God remains with me, has a plan for me, and will perfect all that concerns me. Those truths provide powerful armor I can sink deeply into when temptations hit.

Without that armor, I invite attack.

Notice the tactics Satan used when tempting Jesus.

3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But He answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down, for it is written …” (Matthew 4:3-6, ESV, emphasis mine).

It’s as if he’s mocking Jesus, saying, “If You really are who You say You are …”

When I’ve experienced something similar, I often felt compelled to prove myself. Not Jesus. Instead, He calmly but firmly spoke truth, repeating, “It is written …”

Jesus knew who He was and Who had called Him. Everything else was irrelevant. Everything else is irrelevant to us as well. Regardless of what we face or how others treat us, you and I belong to the God who formed us, loves and redeemed us, and calls us to greatness. We have nothing to prove and no reason to fight for control. We simply need to sink more deeply in who we are and all the blessings and provisions available to us as daughters of Christ.

Let’s talk about this! How has identity-confusion led to sin in your life? What is one way you can anchor yourself more securely in your true identity? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

 

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

Where are you most apt to discount God

(Taken and adapted from a Your Daily Bible Verse podcast episode.)

When faced with a challenge, which way do you most tend to lean. Do you honestly acknowledge the problem and your emotions but then sift your them through everything you know about God, saying, “Yes, this challenge seems insurmountable and beyond me and my resources or strength, but Almighty, all-powerful God is bigger.

Or do you lean the other way? Do you tend to add faith-disclaimers? Do you find yourself, in essence, saying, “Yes, God is all-knowing, all-powerful, faithful, always with me–He retains full control over every situation … except this one. This problem right here, it’s just too much.”?

We see examples of both in Numbers 13. If you spend much time reading Old Testament Scripture, you may be familiar with this period in ancient Israel’s history. Through Moses, the man God chose to liberate His people, He freed them from 400 years of slavery to the nation of Egypt–through a series of miraculous, unforgettable and irrefutable signs, I might add. He used their journey to the Promised Land to reveal His nature and His heart, and ultimately, lead them to Himself..

Prior to their entrance into their new land, Moses sent twelve spies to scout out the area so they could report on the area and its people. After 40 days, the men returned with evidence of the land’s abundance. 

Had they focused on the bounty they carried and the power, presence, and promises of God , they could’ve spent the rest of their lives enjoying the peace and provisions of God rather than wondering about the desert for 40 years. Had they honestly expressed their concerns to Him, I’m certain He would’ve provided the assurance they needed. Then, again, they could’ve avoided a long, tiring four-decade wilderness trek.

Unfortunately, however, they focused entirely on the challenge ahead, refusing to hear truth, while forgetting all of the ways God had faithfully protected and provided for them. 

In short, they amplified their problems and minimized their God. This caused them and nearly the entire camp–all 600,000 plus of them, to become paralyzed in fear.  

Caleb, however, focused on reality. As one of the spies who also had seen the fortified cities throughout Canaan and all the people–some quite large and militant, living within their walls, he understood precisely what challenges lay ahead of them. He probably knew Amalekites Hittites, Jebusites Amorites and Canaanites wouldn’t give up their territory without a fight. He likely realized they had better trained and equipped soldiers than a nation of former slaves. But He also knew that all the armies in the world combined times ten proved no match for Jehovah Sabaoth, the Lord of heaven’s armies.

That was the “Nevertheless” he focused on. “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it,” he said. 

Unfortunately, the people refused to listen to him and therefore forfeited the blessing God had planned on giving them. 

I wonder, how often do we do the same. How often do we forfeit blessings God wants to give us–out of fears we feed through a misplaced focus?

We will always have a “nevertheless” or “Yes, but.” We get to choose what we elevate–our problems and the fear they evoke, or our fearless God. 

I get this isn’t easy. To stand firm on faith, we’ll probably need to redirect our thoughts a thousand times, maybe even a thousand times each day. But each time we do, our faith grows a little stronger, simultaneously starving our fears. 

Catch more of Moses and the Israelite’s journey in the Your Daily Bible Verse series titled Moses: From Fearful to Faithful. Find the latest episode HERE. Catch the Your Daily Bible Verse GodTube channel HERE.

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

Dealing with chaos guest post by Dr. Natalie Ford

Amid Chaos

by Dr. Natalie Ford

When I opened the door to our home and stepped inside, I gasped at the sight. Clothes covered every inch of the living room. Socks littered the newly vacuumed floor I’d left that morning. Belts were hanging from the ceiling fan, and camping supplies were strewn all about. I raced for the phone to call 911. I couldn’t believe it!

“God, no! How could someone break into our home now?” As I reached for the phone, I heard music playing in the back room. I slowly crept toward the doorway when I saw my husband Michael flinging clothes out of drawers and tossing them across the floor. He had emptied every drawer, every closet, and every cabinet looking for some tool he had lost. Overwhelmed at what was happening, I cried, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?”

Surely he had some reason for this insanity! Now let me tell you, in moments like these, remembering that God works all things for the good of those who love him was not my first thought. In that moment, I became unglued. With a crimson face, I shouted words I could never take back.

Michael was the one diagnosed with mental illness, yet I was the one shouting like a maniac. I realized in that moment that I couldn’t go on living like this. Something had to change.

I didn’t even know what to pray for anymore. Life was so desperate. I began crying out to God much like the Psalmists. I yelled about how unjust my life was; I told him how angry I was that the man I loved had turned into someone I no longer recognized. I cried; I screamed, and then something began to change in me.

But in that dark moment, I began to learn that in my weakness, God truly is strong. When there seemed to be no hope, I knew that God was there.

My circumstances did not change after my outburst to God, but something within me did. God was with me that afternoon in my living room and he is with me now. He gave me peace in the midst of the chaos by reminding me that He was still in control and by reminding me that He saw my pain.

My grandmother always says, “God not only knows where you are going, but he also knows what it is going to take to get you there.” God sees what is ahead and He cares about our present. Imagine, God himself, the Holy Spirit, is praying on our behalf. Let that sink in. The Creator of the universe is actively praying for you and for me. He loves with an everlasting love and promises to help us in our weakness. We have hope because God is on the throne and he cares about every detail of our lives. He will never leave us nor forsake us. He is our Peace and our Hope!

The Sovereignty of God is what gives me hope for tomorrow—hope that today’s hurts are not in vain. They are preparations for the future. So, if you are going through your own time of suffering, draw near to God. Allow His presence to comfort you and give you peace.

***

“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans” (Romans 8:24-26, NIV).

Get to Know Dr. Natalie Ford:

Dr. Natalie Flake Ford lives in the North Georgia Mountains with her husband, Jeff.  Dr. Ford graduated from Mercer University with an undergraduate degree in political science. She later completed her master’s degree at Reformed Theological Seminary, and she earned a PhD in Professional Counseling from Liberty University. Dr. Ford is a licensed professional counselor at Northeast Georgia Christian Counseling, the International Member Care Coordinator at Helen First Baptist Church, and an adjunct professor at Liberty University. She has written three books, Tears to Joy, Seeking Answers, Finding Peace, and Grace-based Counseling. She leads a Survivors of Suicide support group, and actively works in suicide postvention research. You can learn more about Dr. Ford at her website, www.drfordwrites.com.

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

God’s Glory and Courage for what’s ahead

(This first posted on July 22, 2021.)

When God calls me to something hard, or to make a drastic life-change, I want clear indications that I’m actually hearing from Him. I tell Him that, and I’m not being demanding nor does this come from a lack of faith. I trust His wisdom and guidance completely, but I don’t always trust my ability to hear and discern Him. And so, I ask for assurances, simultaneously deciding to obey however He leads while asking for the strength to do so. 

I don’t believe God faults me for this. He’s so gentle, so loving and attentive, and He gives me what I need. In those moments of uncertainty, He assures me of His grace and reminds me of His power and plans. Sitting in His presence, surrounded by and filled with Him, enveloped in His love, all my questions tend to fade. Inspired by His mission and the honor of being used by Him, I find I don’t need to know every step. I only need to know He’s with me and that He’s got everything all figured out. 

This is often how He prepares me–for the good, the bad, the difficult and painful, that lies ahead–not by reminding me of all I can or will or might do, but rather, of who He is. All-powerful, all-loving, all-knowing sovereign Lord. 

That may have been, at least in part, why He revealed Himself in such a powerful way to His disciples in Matthew 17. Six days prior, He had shared some really hard and confusing news: He would be rejected by the religious elite and would ultimately be killed, but then, after three days, He’d rise from the dead. (Luke 9:22) And then, He basically told them that if they wanted to follow Him, they needed to be willing to suffer as well. (Luke 23).

Consider, this occurred during what appeared to be the height of Jesus’ ministry. Large crowds were following Him and He was gaining influence. And now, He was telling His disciples that He was going to die? That didn’t make sense! And it certainly wasn’t what they expected. They’d left everything–their jobs, their way of life, and any dreams they might have entertained prior–to follow Christ, likely envisioning something similar to the first century equivalent of Billy Graham revivals. Not suffering, rejection, and tombs.

Can you imagine what must’ve gone through their minds? The questions, confusion, and likely, inner turmoil. I don’t know if they began to doubt Jesus, that He truly was the long-promised Messiah, but I think I might have. I might even have felt a bit cheated. We can respond like that, can’t we? When ministry endeavors don’t go as we expect or whatever God has called us to feels more challenging and less glamorous or overtly fruitful than we’d anticipated? 

And that’s when He reminds us, as He did with the disciples, that He is so much bigger than anything we encounter or do today.  

As He did with the disciples. Scripture says, “​​2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.” (Matthew 17:2-3, NIV). 

Through that awe-inspiring display, I wonder if He was intentionally strengthening Peter’s, James’s, and John’s faith (Matthew 17:1-13). Was that why He allowed them to see His glory in a way no other human, not even Moses, had? Why He confirmed, with such vivid and irrefutable clarity, that He was the one the prophets (Elijah) spoke about, the fulfillment of the law (Moses)? 

As David Guzik, from the Enduring Word, wrote, “A sight of Christ’s glory while we are here in this world, is a good preparative for our sufferings with Him, as these are preparatives for the sight of His glory in the other world.” 

Through His transfiguration, Jesus made it clear, before His disciples saw Him hanging on the cross, mocked by those in power, that He was God’s Son, the Messiah. 

He gave them powerful, unforgettable, supernatural proof.

Like I said earlier, I believe He lovingly prepares and assures us as well. He answers our questions, strengthens our hearts, and ignites our passions so that we can more boldly follow Him. Our callings? They won’t always be easy. Life this side of heaven rarely is. But we can hold tight to the same promise Christ gave His disciples, when He shined so brightly before them: His glory extends far beyond this severely broken world, and one day, we will be fully surrounded by His light.

In the meantime, like the disciples, we climb up on that mountain, that place where we can get alone with Him. Where we can sit in His presence and reflect on how vast and beyond comprehension our Savior is. And we realize, no matter what comes or what we might face, He is and always will be enough. Big enough, strong enough, present enough, and faithful enough to carry us through. 

Let’s talk about this! When was the last time you pulled away to sit in God’s presence to catch a glimpse of who He fully is? How might taking time to do so help strengthen you for whatever He’s calling you to do?

Share your thoughts with us in the comments below, because we can all learn from and encourage one another. 

Have you visited Faith Over Fear’s GodTube channel yet? Find it HERE!

You can catch the latest Faith Over Fear podcast here:

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/finding-peace-in-the-god-of-heavens-armies-jehovah-sabaoth-ep-63

The Beauty on the Other side of control

Note: This first published, with some adaptations, on February 1st, 2018

Before I launch into today’s inspirational message, two invites! Have you subscribed to Faith Over Fear’s GodTube channel yet? You can do so HERE. And, my Your Daily Bible Verse team and I recently launched a GodTube channel as well on which we discuss truths presented on our podcast that week that most impacted us. Find us HERE.  

And now to today’s content.

If God were calling me to a  temporary fast, I could do it. Give up sugar? Ice cream? Television and technology? I wouldn’t forego those things easily, but I could do it. But this, what God’s calling me to release, indefinitely, feels  harder than anything He’s asked of me before. This thing cuts to the core of my hopes and dreams, triggers insecurities and fear, and ultimately, reveals in which I haven’t fully trusted God.

So what is this thing that God calls me, persistently, to relinquish?

Control.

My agenda. My time and my to-do list. Whatever I’m striving for that keeps me from saying, at each moment, “Not my will, but Yours, Lord Jesus, be done.”

When I’m sitting with my Bible, reading of His love and care, meditating on all He’s done for me, yielding to the Spirit fills me with a sense of anticipation.

But then the day begins, and pricks of selfishness, doubt, and uncertainty weaken my resolve and hinder my obedience. My prayers sound more like complaints and long-winded requests than commitments to my Savior.

Perhaps because, while stuck in my head, where all the what-ifs run amuck, I forget that, at His core, my God is good. I’m reminded of Christ’s words in Matthew 16:25, when He said, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

I know, from Scripture and history, that, sometimes, God indeed calls us to willingly give our lives in our allegiance to Him. I won’t deny that this present life can feel hard, heavy, and overwhelming. But I also know that Jesus endured the tortures of the cross for the joy set before Him. This, and everything He preserved in Scripture, tells me that all that awaits us, in Christ, will be infinitely more pleasurable and beautiful than anything we’ve ever experienced on this present earth, a thousand times over.

But I also believe the Lord leads us to filled and fulfilling life now, and we most experience that life by living it as He knows best.

I’ve discovered, If I want to be used by God and touch lives for eternity, my life must be touched first by the transforming power of God, the God who shows me how to love, and live, well.

This is the call. And it begins with a quiet, yet desperate plea, “Change me, Lord. Help me. Do whatever You need to within me to make me pliable in Your hands, a cleansed and open vessel ready to do Your will and Your will only. ”

***

Let’s talk about this! Did anything resonate with you as you read today’s post? Is God asking you to lay down, or perhaps pick up, anything? What makes that hard? Share your thoughts and stories with us in the comments below, because we can all learn from each other!

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

Difficult and courageous obedience

I once heard a pastor say, when we sense God’s call in an area, it’ll often feel like a death. Some of my most frightening and courageous steps of obedience have proven that statement true. Often, I must let something go to embrace whatever new assignment the Lord lays before me. This might sound selfish, but my greatest struggle usually involves relinquishing my agenda, likely because doing so also requires conceding my illusion of control.

When I allow anxiety to drive my actions and freeze my steps, God still fulfills His plan. I simply forfeit my part in them and miss out on encountering the miraculous. The converse is true as well. When I courageously obey God rather than self-protect, I receive the joy and fulfillment of knowing He used me to bring light and life to our dark and hurting world.

Jehosheba and an unnamed nurse mentioned in 2 Kings 11 must’ve wrestled with similar emotions while hiding a baby ordained to one day sit upon Judah’s throne.

The Background

After a season of religious reform, instituted by a godly king named Jehoshaphat, his son and successor, Jehoram, returned wickedness to the nation. When his son Ahaziah rose to power, he followed his father’s example, and was soon killed in battle. After this, we read, “When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family. 2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram[a] and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed” (2 Kings 11:1-3, NIV).

Can you imagine how terrifying this must’ve felt. Jehosheba risked her life to save this child. When chaos hit the palace, did she ever debate not getting involved? Did she contemplate fleeing to the hills or pretending to side with the queen?

Notice also, the dead king was her brother. This means in defying Queen Athaliah, she was going against her family.

Perhaps you know how that feels.

Can you envision how frightening this must’ve felt for the nurse as well? If you’ve ever tried to quiet a baby during church service or while on a plane, you can likely understand how challenging it must have felt to hide young Joash (also called Jehoash) for 6 years!

She must’ve wrestle with her involvement. While abandoning her post might’ve been equivalent to treason, so was hiding the future king from the present queen. When she received the child, did she have any indication as to how long they’d remain in hiding? What plans had she formulated prior? Was she isolated for over half a decade, or did she have help that allowed her to venture outside on occasion?

Did she ever want to quit?

I probably would have, numerous times. But I also would’ve found it incredibly gratifying to know, after those six years, that I had helped save a child.

But here’s the most beautiful part of this story. In rescuing baby Joash, both women also preserved the Messianic line that evil tried to extinguish.

Yet, to quote the study notes in my Tyndale Bible, “Athaliah’s attempts to kill all of Ahaziah’s sons was futile because God had promised that the Messiah would be born through David’s descendants.”

The next time God calls us into a holy battle, big or small, may we find courage in this truth: light always wins, and Christ’s victory is secure.

Join the conversation: What assignment has God invited you to accept? What tiny but necessary step can you take today?

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

Encouragement for the Weak and Weary-guest post by Debbie Wilson

Do you ever feel as if life rushes at you faster than you can keep up, your feet have begun to slip, and your muscles feel so fatigued, you aren’t sure how much longer you can keep standing? If so, then I hope my guest Debbie Wilson’s post encourages you.

Encouragement for the Weak and Weary

by Debbie Wilson

After 16 days of taking oral chelators for heavy metal poisoning, I was beyond exhausted—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I couldn’t hold two thoughts together, let alone think of putting together and presenting an upcoming talk.

I asked a closed Facebook group to pray for me. Hoping for some inspiration, I picked up Robert Morgan’s The Strength You Need, a book a friend had given me. It took me to Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV).

“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

The author pointed out that although we may feel powerless against emotions that come upon us, we have some level of control over our attitudes. Heeding his wisdom, I selected a channel of praise music on my Pandora app and began to sing.

About this time, notices began popping up on my iPhone telling me people were praying. Each message lifted my spirit. I didn’t have to fight this battle alone.

To know we don’t have to stay discouraged is a wonderful hope when life overwhelms us. As we find joy in the Lord, our inner strength returns.

The Psalmist wrote, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes” (Ps. 119:71 ESV).

I’ve experienced the truth of those words. Whenever I go through a trial, Scriptures that apply to what I’m going through jump off the pages of my Bible.

Have you felt weary, weak, or incompetent for the tasks before you? I want to share some Scriptures that spoke to me in my season of weariness. May you draw strength from these promises.

Strength for the Weak and Weary

“As your days, so shall your strength be” (Deuteronomy 33:25 ESV).“The Lord’s eyes scan the whole world to find those whose hearts are committed to him and to strengthen them” (2 Chronicles 16:9 GW).“The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!” (Psalm 68:35 NLT).“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (Isaiah 40:29 NIV).

Wisdom for the Weak and Weary

“Do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit” (Mark 13:11 NKJV).“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Matthew 6:34 NLT).“Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5 NASB).“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV).

I experienced the power of community, and God granted me the strength to prepare and deliver my talk.

The whole Godhead is pulling for you (Rom. 8:26-38)! You don’t have to fight your battle alone. But sometimes, we need to ask for prayers.

March on, my soul; be strong! Judges 5:21 NIV

Get to Know Debbie W. Wilson

Drawing from her walk with Christ, and years as a Christian counselor, coach, and Bible teacher, Debbie W. Wilson helps women give themselves a break so they can enjoy fruitful and grace-filled lives. She is the author of Little Strength, Big God and Give Yourself a Break. She and her husband Larry founded and run Lighthouse Ministries, a nonprofit counseling, coaching, and Bible study ministry. She is an AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) certified speaking and writing coach. Debbie enjoys a good mystery, dark chocolate, and the antics of her two standard poodles. Refresh your faith with free resources including the free pdf download “Forty Days to Strength” at debbieWwilson.com.

Check out her latest release, Little Strength, Big God

Discover the Power of a Big God in Your Everyday Life

Whether you’re facing giants, struggling with doubt, or feeling overwhelmed by life’s challenges, this study reveals how ordinary people throughout the Bible encountered an extraordinary God. And you can too.

Through Little Strength, Big God you’ll:

Learn how to triumph over oppressive enemies and seemingly impossible oddsDiscover how God’s power shines brightest through your weaknessesGain practical insights for daily living and spiritual growth

Perfect for individual study or small groups, this book on Hebrews 11:23-40 combines in-depth biblical exploration with thought-provoking questions and contemporary applications.

Don’t let your weaknesses define you. Little Strength, Big God shows you how to see your challenges through the lens of a big God. It’s time to move from little strength to life-changing confidence in the God who can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version (R). copyright (c) 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/