He Is Faithful to My Heart Part 5 - The Promise Fulfilled

 

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.” Proverbs 12:13 

Life with God is one of hope.  Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” In this definition of faith, we see faith as the substance of hope.  It is the undying conviction of an eager expectation we hold fast to. Our faith is in God Himself, and our hope is in Him who promises the revelation of His Christ and His kingdom. We hope in God to fulfill the promises He sets before us. He promises the earthly manifestation of the testimony of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He promises the imminent return of the Christ and our ultimate bodily resurrection and glorification. He promises the salvation of the earth and the nations therein. He promises the eternal increase of the government of God.  Indeed, there are many great promises within the word of God, and we, in hope, are sure of their future fulfillment. It is this hope that anchors us to His word and develops in us the faith to see these promises fulfilled.  

Just as we hope in the promise of the coming kingdom of Christ to be glorified in all the earth, we hope in promises that God gives us daily.  However it seems that our hope in these intimate promises falter more quickly than our hope in the promise of His manifestation in the earth. We are waiting patiently, yet eagerly, for the return of the Christ, and we are steadfast in this patience. But we often fumble the promises made directly to our hearts of the goodness our Heavenly Father desires to bestow upon us. We are unfaithful with them. Abraham held to the faith in the promise of God for a son of Sarah's womb.  He hoped in the Name of the LORD, and he was rewarded for patiently enduring.  We must learn to do the same if we are to obtain the reward of each intimate promise Abba gives.  Yes, they are often slow to come, but they always come on time.  There is much to be gained in practicing this patience, but much can be lost in the waiting if we fail to maintain our hope.  The beauty of the promises of God is in the process as well as the obtainment. Don’t miss this beauty in despair. Yes, hope deferred does make the heart grow sick, but even waiting can draw us into the beauty of His heart.  And, when the promise comes, life bursts forth within our own hearts.  We are given a double blessing in this: a glimpse of His glorious beauty and a tree of life abounding within us.  The process is important for this double portion blessing, and how wonderful it is to obtain the desire, but during the process, remember the faithfulness of God. Lean on Him; gaze on His beauty; know Him.  He is preparing you for the promise.  Do not lose hope and heart, but know that He is faithful in preparing your heart for the gift, just as He is faithful in bringing the gift.  He is your God and your Father who loves you and delights in giving you good gifts. Receive them with a heart of faith and hope, knowing that He is faithful to your heart both in making the promise and fulfilling it. 

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” – Hebrews 10:23

He Is Faithful to My Heart Part 4 - Building Patience

One prayer request that I hear from so many people is for patience. Whether it is patience in interacting with people, patience in working through a circumstance, or patience in waiting for the fulfillment of a promise, patience is a trait that we all need to get through life.  The blessing is that many of us know we need patience, but few of us know the degree to which we need it. I would argue that a foundational characteristic of life in Christ is patience. In fact, it is one of the fruits of the Spirit noted in Galatians 5:22, and it is the very first trait of love mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13.  In Strong’s Lexicon, the Greek word is the same in both verses, meaning: to suffer long, enduring and remaining steadfast and constant in bearing troubles without retaliating (Paraphrase). When explaining the Parable of the Sower in Luke 8, Jesus encourages us in patience, saying: “But the ones that fell on good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15, NKJV).  We must keep His word and bear fruit with patience. Strong’s Lexicon notes the Greek root of the word for patience in this verse to be to remain and abide, to be held, kept continually. 

The two Greek definitions mentioned above are for different but synonymous words. They both translate to patience in English, but in examining the root of both, we gain insight into the importance of developing patience for this age and the next.  We are commissioned to make disciples of nations. We can’t do that without love.  People can be rude and offensive. We are imperfect and broken. We hurt each other, we make mistakes, and we are often unreliable.  We need to suffer through these things with one another in patience, remaining both steadfast to the people God has placed in our lives and the vision of Christ for their lives and our own. As we our walking out God’s vision for our lives, we will come into situations that are less than pleasant. They are trying times with great purpose: to make us pure and holy vessels unto the LORD.  We are tried in the fire and we come out as gold. The purpose of the trials isn’t a secret. The purpose is written countless times in the Bible, but we often forget that there is a purpose in the midst of it.  To me, Paul puts it best in Romans 5:3, writing: “…but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance (patience); perseverance (patience), character; and character, hope.”  Our trials and tribulations are building within us a patience that is developing us into the character of Christ and producing within us a hope in God’s love for us. God brings us to these places that we may know Him. He is faithful to allow the trials and to give us the grace to endure them patiently. We often do not know the benefit of the trial until it has passed, but there is always a benefit because He works all things out for our good.  He also is faithful in delaying His promises until the appointed time.  Where is the faithfulness in this, you may ask.  We too often expect the promise to be fulfilled immediately and are disappointed when it is delayed. The truth is that there is no delay at all, but only a perceived delay. When the promise is given, our Heavenly Father is aware of the time of its fulfillment. We, however, are not and grow impatient in the waiting.  The blessedness of the waiting is that it is producing much patience and building our character and giving us the traits needed to obtain the promise and be faithful with it.  He is faithful to develop our character and build patience in our hearts. 

Patience enables us to love each other and make disciples, fulfilling the commission of Christ. It enables us to endure tribulations and remain abiding in the LORD as we do so. It helps build our character that we may obtain the promises He gives for our lives. And finally, one of the great needs for patience is to receive the promise He has given to the world.  Our LORD will return, and His people have been waiting for millennia to see His return. Without patience, we would’ve given up hope long ago. But the hope that patience produces is also for the glory of His coming.  He will come for us, and we would lose hope and turn away from Him if not for patience. I am grateful that He is faithful to build in me the patience necessary to remain steadfast in Him as I eagerly await His return. 

“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the LORD. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.  You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the LORD is at hand.”   (James 5:7-8, NKJV). 

He Is Faithful to My Heart Part 3 - Strengthening My Love

I watched Evan Almighty for the first time a few nights ago with my sister.  I was hesitant to watch it after watching Bruce Almighty, but I was pleasantly surprised by what transpired in the movie. It isn’t a typical Hollywood movie and the humor suited my taste more than the average comedies produced these days.  What I loved most about the movie was how the screenplay echoed my walk with God.  Obedience is a difficult thing for every believer. When God asks us to do something, the difficulty often lies in the fact that these tasks 1) take us out of our comfort zone, 2) require us to give up something we’re holding onto, and 3) are too big for us to complete without Him (translation: the tasks are overwhelming).  These are just a few of the challenges we face in obedience.  However, He does nothing in vain or wastefully, and with every assignment He gives us, there is a purpose and there will be great fruit that will strengthen us and feed others.

My favorite quote in the movie is, “Let’s just say that whatever I do, I do because I love you.” I was ready to cry when Morgan Freeman (who plays God in the movie) says this. It struck a cord with so many things that are going on in my life right now. I’m sure the sentiment would be the same at any given moment in my life. The truth is that our walk with God in faithfulness and obedience is not easy. There is much pain and heartache that comes as we die to flesh, but there is also a joy greater than the deepest pain that is promised and available for us now. To me, this quote epitomizes the heart of the Father for us. It shows His faithfulness in drawing us to Him.  The things He asks of us don’t always make sense to us, but when we obey, we are given a deeper understanding of His love and being strengthened to withstand the times that are to come.  When Jesus speaks to the disciples about the signs of the end times, He warns: “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24:12-13, NKJV).  Whatever God does, He does because He loves us. His directions to us increase our love for Him and for one another so that when lawlessness abounds, our love will be strong in Him.  He is faithful in growing our love lest it grows cold and we turn from Him. He does this through the commands He gives and the tasks He places before us to accomplish. They are not always easy, but in the end, they will help keep us abiding in Him. Each task He gives is an opportunity for us to strengthen our hearts in Him. Let us approach these opportunities with the surety of His faithfulness and love for us.

He Is Faithful to My Heart Part 2 - Uprooting Offense

 The Jewish Fall Feasts were celebrated a month ago.  I’m growing in appreciation for these wonderful celebrations.  There is such a rich revelation of Jesus to be found within these feasts, and I believe the Body of Christ needs to give more attention to them.  But what does that have to do with His faithfulness to my heart (or yours for that matter)? Well, within the line up of the Fall Feasts is Yom Kippur, which is the Day of Atonement.  According to the Old Testament law, once a year, the high priest would go into the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the whole nation of Israel. While we know that Jesus is our atonement for eternity, there is a hidden gem in the way Jews prepare for this wonderful day.  From Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) until the end of Yom Kippur are the ten Days of Awe (or the High Holy Days). During this period, observing Jews examine themselves and take the time to repent to God and repent to one another to ensure that their names are written in the Book of Life. As believers in Jesus Christ, we have an assurance of our eternal salvation and can view Yom Kippur as a time to express our gratitude to God for the blood of Christ that has redeemed us.  While I think it is fairly common for us to confess our sins and repent to God, I don’t think we repent to each other enough for the hurts and offenses we’ve caused.

It is so important for us to remember the atoning sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. Without His sacrifice, we would not be able to commune with God.  When we ask forgiveness of God, we know He gives it to us because Jesus died for our sins. However, after reciting the model prayer, Jesus offers a nugget of truth found within the prayer, saying: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15 NKJV). God extends so much grace to us with the desire of drawing us into relationship with Him and others through repentance and love.  Offense is a deadly poison that kills the body as well as the soul.  Offense has been the reason for the collapse of many great ministries and the fall of many great men.  The bible warns against allowing offense and bitterness to grow time and time again. It is so important that we draw to Him and one another in love, suffering the heartache that comes with relationships and forgiving when necessary. We need not only be willing to forgive, but our willingness must translate into action whether the other person is ready to hear and receive our pardon or not. The same goes for repentance. We need to have a repentant heart towards the LORD and each other when we sin. I also believe, at times, the offended needs to repent to the offender and God for allowing hurt to grow into bitterness and hate. Too often, we can only see the hurt inflicted on us and we blind ourselves to the hurt we inflict on others when operating with a bitter heart. But praise God! He is faithful to instruct us in the art of repenting and forgiving. He is faithful in highlighting the offenses within our hearts and drawing them out through forgiveness. He is faithful to shine His light of love upon our hearts, uprooting the darkness of offense and making us more like Him through humility in the process. When the offenses are highlighted and He prompts us to repent and forgive, we must act according to His direction. It will always be humbling, but it is very necessary. When we confess our sins to one another, our hearts are exposed, but it’s important that we do not allow offense to dwell within us.  He is faithful to reveal it, and we must be faithful to act on this revelation.  If we fail in the moment of prompting, there is an appointed time once a year for us to clean our hearts. Then we are able to enter into a new year free of the weight of offense and covered by the atoning blood of the Lamb.

He Is Faithful to My Heart Part 1 - Pain In Sanctification

I am consistently amazed at the LORD’s faithfulness. He is unwavering and uncompromising in sanctifying our hearts unto Him. Yeshua seeks a bride who is pure and spotless, and He will go at great lengths to pursue and win her to Himself. It is His constancy in love and commitment to the covenant He has made in His name that makes it so.

Oftentimes, the occurrences He allows in order to eternally secure our love cause heartbreak and sorrow for us. With understanding of these times, David writes: “I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness, you have afflicted me” (Psalm 119:75 NKJV). Other times, they force us to take a deep look at the blackness in our own souls. It isn’t pleasant, but it’s necessary. During these times, we can earnestly cry out: “I am dark, but lovely” (Song of Solomon 1:5). It is His very love that leads us to these places of introspection. The ultimate goal: to uproot the darkness that light may shine freely through us, that love may dwell within us, and that His glory may become ours. We must behold Him, and in the beholding, we are always faced with a decision: to continue beholding and allow the painful dying of our flesh to take place, or to turn away and try our hand at sanctifying ourselves. We will always fail at sanctifying ourselves, but when the beholding becomes too painful, turning away seems the best choice. However, if we wait patiently and endure the pain, we will be made a little more humble, a little more holy, a little more like the Love we seek. He enables us to endure this pain as the One who endured the greatest pain in death on the tree. He knows what we are able to bear and when we are able to bear it.

We need to seek the understanding of this mystery. With worldly eyes, we associate pain with death, but in His kingdom, pain leads to life. It is why, as he laments, Jeremiah is able to declare: “Great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:23). God is faithful to do what it takes to give us eternal life. Proverbs 27:6 says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” In friendship, God will always speak truth. It will not always be easy to swallow, but He will always speak it in love and as an act of faithfulness to us that we might endure until the end. Without this type of faithfulness, though it may hurt, we would quickly be swept away by the fads of this world.

Abba is preparing a pure and spotless Bride for His Son and a holy people with whom He can dwell. Sanctification results in holiness. But there is often sorrow in sanctification. It means you let go of your way and the ways of the world to be set apart unto God. It means you die to pride, selfishness, personal gain, and other things the world totes as praiseworthy. It means you look foolish to those whom you may esteem. But what does it matter if our love for God is at stake? The truth is to all of us it means everything and nothing. We must die to everything we hold dear, and it hurts, but compared to Jesus and His sacrifice for us, it’s nothing. In Romans 8:18, Paul writes, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” I wholeheartedly agree. This verse shines the light of truth on our sufferings. They are nothing compared to the gift of eternity with God, and yet they are necessary to attain that gift He so faithfully gives. It is my heart to dwell with Him eternally in love and in truth, and I know, in the midst of the heartache, He is being faithful to my heart.

Letting Go

A year ago, I found myself in a precarious situation. I was transitioning in many ways. I had left my job a few months before, and I was preparing to go to Israel. I was moving from a place of having a steady income to living on support, and I was healing from the wounds of a past failure due to unwise actions on my part. While moving towards the future, I was clinging to the past and refusing to let go of guilt and a hope in my own ability I had held far too long. Finally the LORD visited me, and this is what happened:

I stood before the LORD, and He asked me who or what would I choose. I couldn't hold onto both. It was then that I noticed my hands were closed into tight fist, clutching guilt from the past. It was guilt over things I didn't do right or I didn't put enough into, and areas where I felt I dishonored God. He called me fair. He said I was spotless in righteousness. Not my own righteousness, but in His. I chose Him. I let go of it all and put my arms around my LORD. I held tightly to Him with all my strength and closed my eyes. We began to ascend into the heavens. I opened my eyes to see it all below me. His love transcends it all. When we are found in His love, nothing can come near us, because we are above it all, seated in heavenly places with the God of the Universe. He is King, and in everything, for better or for worse, I will always choose Him. How about you?

Rejoicing in Brokenness

I am 25 years old and still very young. Yet, I have experienced many times of brokenness, as I’m sure we all have no matter the age. I have learned time and time again that brokenness isn’t a sentence to depression, but rather an opportunity to rejoice in a love that is unfailing. No matter how much pain I feel when my heart is rent, I’ve learned to give thanks to the LORD God, because He is always with me. They say misery loves company, but His word promises those who revere Jesus: the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in His wings.[1] He will bring comfort to our hearts and joy that gives new life. Because He loves us, He doesn’t remove Himself when we are miserable rather He draws near to us offering the grace to rejoice for those who take it.

Many times He doesn’t take away the brokenness, but He gives us the grace to endure it until His perfect work is finished in us. A rent heart is a blessed one for when it is broken, the contents that cause the brokenness can be poured out. Once mended, our hearts can once again be filled with the love, joy, and peace that God so longs to give His children who abide in Him. In Psalm 34:18, David prays, “The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” When we have broken hearts, we can be sure that God is near to us and He is our salvation. In my own brokenness, I have experienced His perseverance in loving me. In my weakness, I have experienced how He faithfully keeps me in His strength. In the depths of despair, I have seen the beauty of God. And, so I have rejoiced, because in my brokenness, I have learned that God is my everything and my life is staked in Him. Without this lesson, I would be of those perishing. But, I chose to rejoice in brokenness, and it’s a decision I will make for the rest of my life. God is good, and He will perfect my faith as long as I remain in Him, especially in brokenness.

---

[1] Malachi 4:2

He's the Reason I Can Smile

When darkness comes

And troubles abound

There’s little reason for joy

Or to make a cheerful sound

When my heart grows faint

And trembles in sorrow

I can’t keep my head up

Or find hope in tomorrow

When tears are my food

And I can no longer rejoice

I remember this is passing

I’ll have to make a choice

When the storm grows stronger

And it stretches on for miles

I look up to my Savior

He’s the reason I can smile.

Embracing the Cross

Jesus bids us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him (Luke 9:23 NKJV), adding: “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:27 NKJV). This is a heavy command. In bearing His cross, Jesus was walking to His death, and He is asking us to do the same, saying, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Luke 9:24 NKJV). It is a high calling to follow Jesus. Only in Him do we find life and the truest expression of that life is gained through faith and obedience.

How many of us call ourselves followers of Christ without adhering to or even considering the ways of Him whom we profess to follow? Jesus led us in all that He commanded us. There is not one thing that He asks of us that He did not first do. And yet, we approach His requests as unreasonable or too great. The truth is that His requests are too great without His help, which is why we have been given a helper in Holy Spirit. At the core of our inability to follow Him is not truly a lack of ability but rather an aching desire to follow after the ways of our flesh and an indifference to His word. In our natural, unrefined states, we live to satisfy the flesh, and in doing so, we are slaves to it. With Christ, we are empowered to rise above the flesh and live more abundantly in His freedom. We do this by denying ourselves and taking up our crosses daily. It’s a choice we must make every day to be like our Jesus and truly be followers of this man we profess, who is the very Word of God. It isn’t easy to die to our flesh and choose His higher ways, but He never said it would be. His invitation to be His disciples is an invitation to walk out our own death daily and to choose life in Him.

Jesus is my greatest desire, and I know to be worthy of Him, I must bear my cross and follow Him (Matthew 10:38 NKJV). I often find myself lamenting the hard moments in life and praying that they would be taken from me. Jesus Himself prayed such a prayer, but knowing that for the sake of love His crucifixion was necessary, He adjusted His prayer towards obedience to death on the cross. And so, for the sake of love, I’m choosing to embrace my cross. My confession is that Jesus is worth it. Let my actions be true to my words, and let my words be true to my heart. He is worth it all. Today, I’m choosing, not to just bear the cross, but to embrace it. I know that as I do so, I’m drawing nearer to Him, My Desire and My Love.

The Gospel Truth

The other day, I thought about one of my uncles who is deceased. I don’t know what triggered this memory, but it was accompanied by a depth of love, and I wondered if he is with Jesus or not. I didn’t know, and so I prayed.

You see, the truth is we are a fallen people in a fallen world. Without Christ, our existence is a story full of hurt and pain, unaccomplished dreams, unfulfilled expectations, brokenness, bitterness, false love, striving for what cannot satisfy, and glimpses of hope that amount to nothing in the long run. But my glimpses of hope produce happiness, you may protest. Maybe for now, but in the long run, Christ is the only thing that matters. All else falls away but love, and God is love. What of this happiness will you be able to take with you when you pass?

We’re ravenously hungry and never satisfied as we fill ourselves on the junk of the world. Sex isn’t enough. Alcohol isn’t enough. Lying, cheating, and stealing aren’t enough. We’re still hungry. So we do more, we try harder, we run faster after these things that feed us death and not life. It’s a remedy of the ancients that has never truly rectified anything. The hole is still there right in the center of our beings. The ache of dissatisfaction remains. Well then, let’s try something else. Let’s try bigger, let’s try better, let’s try faster. As long as we’re one up on our neighbor, we’re doing pretty good, right? Wrong! We all know by now the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. If we're still hungry now, with the better we thought would satisfy, won’t it be the same tomorrow?

You see, the truth is there was a beginning when God created the world. After that beginning, Eve sinned under brazen deception and Adam followed. Even now, we believe what we choose to believe and, so often, turn from the truth that has saved us through the ages and brought us the true joy and satisfaction that we crave. When Adam and Eve sinned, we were all affected. The world was thrown into chaos and has continued in chaos since. People have murdered, stolen, cheated, lied, and committed adultery and sexual immorality, in addition to other heinous acts since that moment. All of us are guilty of sinning against God and each other. It’s inherent in our nature.

But what does it mean to be a fallen people in a fallen world? Our Creator God had expectations of us when He created the world. Adam and Eve were to walk in community with Him and each other. They were to fill the earth with sons and daughters who walked in this community blessed with the presence of the Living God. The sin of Adam and Eve resulted in a separation between God and man. Think of a relationship that you cherished so much, but no longer enjoy. One simple act broke the fellowship of that wonderful relationship perhaps forever. And so it was with God and man. We were made the keepers of the earth and all that were in it. When we fell short of His expectations of communing with us, we drew the world down with us. The earth could not fulfill its true destiny if her masters could not fulfill theirs. And we can’t. Not without a little help from God Himself.

Enter the Christ. Who is this Jesus Christ you hear about? He is God in the flesh. After we broke communion with God, His desire for us remained, but, unlike most men, He did not let pride keep Him from seeking restoration in that relationship. He is not proud. He is love. So, He began the greatest rescue mission ever accomplished in the history of the world. He chose a man and a woman to birth a people with whom He might walk in covenant. He set this people apart and gave them His ways. They were given directions to attaining righteousness so our relationship with Him might be restored. But the arrogance and ignorance of man still kept us from Him. Lucky for us, He knew what would happen. From this people, who had His ways, He chose a woman to give birth to Jesus Christ. You see, even though the people fell short in their part of the agreement, He never falls short on His. God Himself entered into the flesh of man to be birthed through this woman that He might walk with man in the world and lead us back to our original purpose. He desired for both man and the earth, which man kept, to be restored and healed that both might walk according to their original design. And so God came as a man, Jesus Christ, walked with us and died on this earth. Of course, this isn’t the end. God has no ending. He is eternal. But didn’t He die? Yes, but He holds all power in His hand.

Jesus Christ died and, three days later, took His life back from death. He rose from the grave that He might make known the truth of His being to men before assuming His throne in Heaven. So, you see, Jesus lives. Not only does He live, but He eagerly awaits our coming to Him. How might this be if there has been a separation since Adam and Eve walked the earth? Well, when Jesus died on the cross, He took every sin that we ever committed and ever will commit upon Himself and put it to death with Him. God is just. It’s a part of His very nature, and someone had to receive the chastisement of our sin. He is also merciful, and He chose that someone to be Himself. He took the chastisement of our sin. You see, He had to come as a man to finish what man began. We brought sin into the world, and God came to remove it. He took our punishment so that we might have life.

I know the world is still full of sin, but there is an opportunity for it to be free of sin. And one day, it will be when Jesus returns to receive all of those who know Him and walk in relationship with Him. But right now, at this very moment, you can begin a life without sin and walk free of the guilt and shame of sinful acts. Unfathomable, I know, but all things are possible with God. He will remove your sin and give you true righteousness. That doesn’t mean you won’t sin ever again, it means that when you do, you’ll have access to the grace of God that brings repentance and forgiveness of sins. Once you repent, God removes it from you and His record. Jesus paid the price, and you can reap the benefits. How can this be? How is it so simple?

Our righteousness was never an option. We can’t be righteous on our own. We need God to be like God. It’s that simple. He alone is righteous. When we receive Him into our lives, He makes us like Him through communion and relationship with Him. So it’s kind of simple, but kind of not. He did all the work. We just have to allow ourselves to be loved and to love in return. Then you will know the feeling of true joy. Then you will find satisfaction and your hunger abated. Then, when you pass away and leave this earth, you will be certain of a treasure far better than jewels and a family closer than any you’ve ever known awaiting your arrival.

If you want to know Jesus Christ and walk in relationship with God, say this prayer:

Dear Lord God, forgive me for my ignorance. I have not known You, but now it is a sincere desire of mine to know You. I’ve lived my life in sin and shame. I’ve allowed guilt to fill my heart and indulged in things that do not satisfy. I have sought fulfillment in other places, but now I know that true fulfillment and satisfaction can only come from You. I repent from the sin that ruled me, and I say, from this day forward, I choose to no longer live for sin, but to live for Jesus Christ. Thank you, Jesus, for dying for me and taking my sin and punishment upon Yourself. I believe that You were raised from the dead and that You live now in Heaven, and I thank You for Your resurrection which gives me true life. Dear God, I invite You into my life and into my heart to fill me with Your love and to walk in relationship with me. I declare that You, Jesus Christ, are Lord over my life. I commit myself into Your loving hands, in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Please leave a comment if you want to know more or email me at kdluney9@gmail.com.

Sovereign God

"He reduces the princes to nothing;

He makes the judges of the earth useless.

Scarcely shall they be planted,

Scarcely shall they be sown,

Scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth,

When He will also blow on them,

And they will wither.

And the whirlwind will take them away like stubble.”

– Isaiah 40:23-24 NKJV

South Sudan is a new nation. The Presidents of Egypt and Tunisia have stepped down. The end of their rule was inevitable. Kings rise and fall. Governments are formed and then toppled. The one constant in this ever-changing world is Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is the Sovereign God who reigns eternally. He dictates the seasons and times. At His word, nations begin and end. He is the God of the Universe, and His counsel prevails.

Our God is sovereign, and He is a good Father. He loves His children, and He hears our petitions. As our Sovereign King, He makes the rules and sets the times. As our Daddy, He invites us to sit on His lap and help bring His will to pass. What does that have to do with kings and governments? Well, I can think of a few places that are in need of new governments, and, if we ask our Daddy, He might just be directing us in how to pray concerning the appropriate time and methods for these governments to be established. Amos 3:7 (NASB) says, “Surely the LORD GOD does nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel to His servants the prophets.” We, His children and servants, are given the ability to hear the words of His mouth and prophesy them into the earth. This ability is both a gift and directive. Let us not squander it. Tunisia and Egypt are transitioning to a new government. South Sudan has been voted a new nation and is creating a government. Let us sit with our Sovereign Father and pray from the throne of grace for governments and rulers for these nations that will rule with wisdom and justice. Let us seek the heart of the Father and pray for His will to be established within these nations. Tunisia, Egypt, and South Sudan all have destinies given by our Sovereign Father. Let us pray for them to enter into these destinies as directed by His wise counsel in His Mighty Name.

Prayer Alerts for Egypt

Please read these prayer alerts from Cindy from Generals International on how we should go about praying for Egypt: http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=605058194778523421

Also, here is a link to a video prayer alert by Rick Ridings from Succat Hallel in Jerusalem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKDtyvvjlKk

Praying for a Free Egypt

I don’t like politics. I have no aspirations to be a politician, and the thought of being one makes me cringe. I prefer not to talk about politics though there are some instances in which passion stirs me to speak. In those moments, I rant so fervently I doubt I’m very coherent and I leave the recipients of such talks speechless at my passion. I’ve come to one of those moments. This blog is not intended to be political in any way, and though the topic is highly political, I would like to attempt to address it from heaven’s eyes and the eyes of those it affects most.

The events taking place in Egypt is and will continue to greatly affect the world. I don’t think many Americans understand the depth of the impact, but we rarely choose to understand anything that does not have immediate and direct affect on us. I know all of the political reasons we should take an interest in Egypt, but I’m not going to address those. You can turn on a news channel or read a newspaper to get that information. Rather, as a people who love God, we have a different responsibility towards Egypt and her people. As I’ve watched the events unfold and listened to the comments of the Egyptians, I’ve had a myriad of verses running through my mind from the Psalms, Proverbs, and a chapter in Isaiah. I’m going to focus on one in an effort to keep this short.

Proverbs 14:31 say, “He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker. But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.”

I am amazed at God’s love for us all. Whether we have accepted Christ as Lord or not, God loves us as our Maker. His desire for the fatherless and oppressed draws Him toward mercy. And how merciful He has been to us all. The Egyptians have suffered oppression under the leadership of their president for decades. They have lived in poverty and hunger with little hope of any change. They have lived in fear of torture and senseless murder from the police while their president’s economic policies have essentially robbed them of a livelihood. Many live without education and die of preventable and curable illnesses due to the lack of healthcare. While the oppression of the Christians in Egypt has been much greater than that of the Muslims, God hates evil regardless the form and magnitude. It is important that we stand with the Egyptians in prayer as they peacefully pursue their freedom. They are crying out, and their cries do not fall upon deaf ears. I know God hears them, as should we, His ambassadors and priests on earth. It is bad stewardship for us, who have been given the words of life and freedom, to avert our eyes from those who are oppressed and crying out for freedom. Whether it’s Egypt, Sudan, Korea, or Colombia, we need to be praying for Holy Spirit to comfort the oppressed and liberty to be proclaimed to the captives. In this moment, Egypt has risen up and is seeking freedom. Let us honor the Lord by showing mercy to Egypt through our prayers. Let us stand with the oppressed, remembering the love of Christ and His desire to free them.

I know a huge concern is Egypt’s peace agreement with Israel and the stand Egypt will take as a democratic nation towards Israel and America. I do not mean to sound callous, but our concern should not be the “what ifs” of tomorrow. God guides the hearts of kings wherever He pleases (Proverbs 21:1 paraphrase). It is unjust for us to allow oppression for the sake of a future hope. The plans of the Lord will prevail (Proverbs 19:21 paraphrase), but we must have His heart of mercy towards the oppressed if we are to honor Him before men. What will come will come, and we will address it as He leads. But now, this is at our door, and we must be willing to take a stand in prayer for the needy. Otherwise, we join in reproaching our Maker. I know it’s God’s heart to free nations, and He has invited us to join Him in this. As the Egyptians continue in protest, I will be praying for a free Egypt. How about you?

Read Isaiah 19 to learn more about God’s heart for Egypt. Let God's will be done and Christ prevail within the hearts of the Egyptians. Let them call upon His Name and be saved.

A Poem For Egypt

"Greater love has no man than this, than to lay down one's life for his

friends." - John 15:13 Let us continue to pray for the salvation of

Muslims everywhere.

Picture of Christians protecting Muslims as they prayer.

Taken by NevineZaki. For more photos, click here.

Let the people cry out

And let their voices be heard in the highest heaven.

The LORD is a champion for the oppressed.

He arises on behalf of the broken-hearted.

FREEDOM! FREEDOM!

The cry resounds through the ages.

But whose freedom?

That of God or of men?

Mercy and justice will reign true.

Both are held by God.

He sees your plight.
He hears your cries.

The intercession of Christ will prevail:

The blood of the Eternal One.

He stands with the oppressed and proclaims:

FREEDOM! FREEDOM!

And so it shall be.

When is the time to trust?
Is it when all is calm,
When waves the victor's palm,
And life is one glad psalm
Of joy and praise?
Nay! but the time to trust
Is when the waves beat high,
When storm clouds fill the sky,
And prayer is one long cry,
O help and save!

When is the time to trust?
Is it when friends are true?
Is it when comforts woo,
And in all we say and do
We meet but praise?
Nay! but the time to trust
Is when we stand alone,
And summer birds have flown,
And every prop is gone,
All else but God.

What is the time to trust?
Is it some future day,
When you have tried your way,
And learned to trust and pray
By bitter woe?
Nay! but the time to trust
Is in this moment's need,
Poor, broken, bruised reed!
Poor, troubled soul, make speed
To trust thy God.

What is the time to trust?
Is it when hopes beat high,
When sunshine gilds the sky,
And joy and ecstasy
Fill all the heart?
Nay! but the time to trust
Is when our joy is fled,
When sorrow bows the head,
And all is cold and dead,
All else but God.

- From Streams in the Desert

Let God Be Found True

Our Loving God promises many things to His people throughout history. The many promises in the Bible fall into different categories. Some are person-specific, while others are position-specific. To a servant, He may promise one thing, while another is promised to a son. While some promises are conditioned upon our response to God, there are promises made to us as children of the Living God that cannot be taken. Sometimes it may seem as though these promises are so far off or may never come, but God is faithful even when we are faithless. Since the beginning of this year, one verse has echoed through my soul:

“Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar.” - Romans 3:4

But what does this mean? Paul was writing about circumcision and the consecration of the Jews as God’s people. God will remain faithful to His covenant with Israel. Many people doubt this, and I’m sure this very issue raises doubt in their own hearts of God’s good will towards them. Our ability to trust in God’s word, in His very faithfulness, is dependent on our historical and intimate knowledge of God within our own lives and the lives of others. He comes through for us time and time again. If He did not, He would not be true and our doubts would be justified. But He is true, and our doubts make us out to be liars. Again, Paul writes:

“If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” - 2 Timothy 2:13

Jesus is the very Word of God. If God is not true to His Word, He is not true to Himself. There are promises God makes to us as His children. These promises are given for our good and His glory. We both win. He gives as freely as He loves. Beloved, this post is not about Israel, but your relationship with God. He loves you. He wants to give you good things. Hold onto the promises He has given you as His child, for He will make good on His word. And, if you have trouble believing, draw near to Him, for He will be faithful to you, even to the end.