"Come unto me all you that are weary and heavy laden (exhausted) and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me ….” – Matt. 11
Everyone experiences confusion on a regular basis. I know this is not the greatest news in the world. Yet, I believe it is totally true. Allow me to prove my point from my own life.
I have confusion over many things daily. Why do I always catch the red light? How do I get an elevator to come to the floor I’m on more quickly? Besides these minor fits of confusion, there are some that are more personal. Why do I withdraw when I’m hurt? Why am I so easily threatened by life (esp. when I have more education than any one in their right mind should!).
I can step confusion up another level when I move from concerns about me to concerns about God. Where is He when I hurt? What was God doing when I was being abused? Boy, don’t those questions stir us!
Wouldn’t it be nice if all of our confusion could be cleared up so easily? And that is exactly the point of this article, to help you get the most out of your confusion.
Let me tell you how confusion feels:
Questions.
Disorientation.
Sadness.
Darkness.
Abandonment.
Anger.
I have good news for you confusion is purposeful. It forces you and I to say loudly, "I don’t know!” Confusion shocks you! The shock reveals overconfidence in your own knowledge. You can be TOO sure!
Confusion can expose our need for inordinate control of life, even to the point of trying to manipulate God to get relief from the confusion. Confusion accelerates when we look to ourselves and not God. I believe confusion is an invitation to turn the problem over to Christ.
Here are principles I picked up in one of my readings as I was moving through the dark valley of confusion to the freedom of trust:
* Remember, even though you’re confused God is not!
* Admit your confusion to God. Don’t hold back! God is able to handle any honest concern you have.
* Cry out to God for help or direction that only He can give. In this way your confusion propels you to rich dependence on God.
* Don’t try to STOP the confusion. Instead, confess the confusion to God fully aware that your best attempts are carnal, fleshly efforts that will yield no lasting change.
* Confusion confirms a biblical view of man and God. What I mean is we know a little and God knows all. Therefore, confusion moves us from our little knowledge to God’s all-knowing.
God invites you to come when confused, tired, and exhausted. Hear the words of our brother Jesus, "Come unto me all you that are weary and heavy laden (exhausted) and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me ….” – Matt. 11
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
The Battle Belongs to the Lord
Yup! It's been a long time since my last post. Been enjoying this super fast summer and still enjoying it. It's nice to simply step back from Blogging for a while and let my mind wander around. I have kept alot of thoughts about God to myself and enjoyed the conversations with God. He amazes me so much! I really, really admire God so much. But, unfortunately, not everyone has the same touching and conversing relationship I have with God.
Ok.. Here's a blog I just thought of today. And I'm glad to share it with each of you!
When you fight series of daily battles, who's battle is it? That's why we oft sing this song, "The battle belongs to the Lord!" Do you know what the middle verse of the Old Testament is? It’s 2 Chronicles 20:17: “You will not have to fight in this battle.” This is a significant verse – and not just because it’s the middle point of the Old Testament. It’s significant because of what it says to those of us fighting a battle.
Who is God talking to in this passage? He’s talking to King Jehoshaphat and the Israelites. They’re about to be attacked by three enemies: the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Meunites. I don’t know about you, but I’m not fond of three against one fights! This was a triple threat. Jehoshaphat had to be worried about how they could defend themselves in such a battle, especially against three countries, but God knew what he was thinking. He said, "You will not have to fight in this battle." Now, that’s the kind of battle I like! If you don’t fight, you can’t get hurt.
What God tells Jehoshaphat in this passage, and what he would remind us today, is this: "The battle is not yours; it's mine. You don't have to fight in it." It's God's problem. Let him solve it. Otherwise, you'll be exhaustively fighting battles you cannot win because you didn't allow God to take your problem.
The fact is, if you are God’s child, then your problems are his problems. And he’s much better at fighting your battles and solving your problems than you will ever be. Your job is to trust him to work it all out. The reason why we have so many tired, fatigued, and discouraged ministers is they walk around with this Atlas complex. "I'm carrying the entire world on my shoulders! And it all depends on me." The day you resign as General Manager of the Universe, you're going to find that it doesn't fall apart. You can relax in faith, trusting that God is able to run things without your help.
Twice in this passage it says, "Don't be afraid," and "Don't be discouraged." When you face a seemingly impossible situation, don't be afraid and don't be discouraged. These passages must be in your heart. If it is not, then you're in for a huge struggle against the flesh. Has God ever lost a battle? No. He doesn't lose battles. And because he’s never lost a battle, we should never be afraid.
In the picture above, Leonidias, king of Sparta (Greece), in the movie, 300, led three hundred born-bred, fighting soldiers against millions of Persian soldiers. The Spartan law is "Never Retreat", "Never Surrender"! They fought and fought and fought and killed hundreds of thousands. They were loyal to their country. They were obedient to the law. They fight to death! Leonidias and his 299 were betrayed by their fellow countrymen, trapped and killed by thousands of arrows. But that wasn't the end. Their bravery insired their fellow countrymen and hundreds of thousands of Spartan soldiers fought against the Persian nation defending Greece. They prevailed!
God has a reputation for winning. We are on the winning side. Regardless of the problems or difficulties or the barriers or the circumstances or the hang-ups or the delays, ultimately, we are on the winning side.
That's good news. When I know that I have given my life completely to Jesus Christ and I'm trying to live for him to the best of my ability, I don't have to sweat the small stuff. I may lose a few skirmishes here and there, but ultimately, I'm on the winning side. Really! If you don't feel you're on the winning side, it's a heart thing. You have not fully surrendered to God or in other words, fully given your heart to God so that He can make your heart His throne.
There's an important phrase in verse 17. God tells Jehoshaphat, "Take up your positions and stand firm." What does it mean to stand firm? It means to have a mental attitude of quiet confidence. It is never God's will for you to run from a difficult situation. Remember the Spartan law: "NEVER RETREAT". I've discovered that when I run from a difficult situation, inevitably God always brings it back around and gives me another chance. It's inevitable. Why? Because God wants us to learn and he wants to teach us through experience that in every situation he is sufficient. He is competent and capable and he will meet our needs in that situation. Don't be afraid – fear is the opposite of faith.
What am I to stand firm on while I'm waiting for God to fight my battles? While I'm waiting for the miracle in my finances or my marriage or my business or whatever, what do I stand firm on? You stand firm on two things:
1) The character of God. He's faithful. He does not bring us this far just to let us down. He doesn't bring you out on a limb and then cut the limb off. Have faith in the nature and character of God.
2) The truth of his Word. God’s Word is faithful. You can count on the promises found in the Bible.
Stand still. Remember Who the battle belongs to. Trust that he is able to deliver you. And then watch him do it!
Ok.. Here's a blog I just thought of today. And I'm glad to share it with each of you!
When you fight series of daily battles, who's battle is it? That's why we oft sing this song, "The battle belongs to the Lord!" Do you know what the middle verse of the Old Testament is? It’s 2 Chronicles 20:17: “You will not have to fight in this battle.” This is a significant verse – and not just because it’s the middle point of the Old Testament. It’s significant because of what it says to those of us fighting a battle.
Who is God talking to in this passage? He’s talking to King Jehoshaphat and the Israelites. They’re about to be attacked by three enemies: the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Meunites. I don’t know about you, but I’m not fond of three against one fights! This was a triple threat. Jehoshaphat had to be worried about how they could defend themselves in such a battle, especially against three countries, but God knew what he was thinking. He said, "You will not have to fight in this battle." Now, that’s the kind of battle I like! If you don’t fight, you can’t get hurt.
What God tells Jehoshaphat in this passage, and what he would remind us today, is this: "The battle is not yours; it's mine. You don't have to fight in it." It's God's problem. Let him solve it. Otherwise, you'll be exhaustively fighting battles you cannot win because you didn't allow God to take your problem.
The fact is, if you are God’s child, then your problems are his problems. And he’s much better at fighting your battles and solving your problems than you will ever be. Your job is to trust him to work it all out. The reason why we have so many tired, fatigued, and discouraged ministers is they walk around with this Atlas complex. "I'm carrying the entire world on my shoulders! And it all depends on me." The day you resign as General Manager of the Universe, you're going to find that it doesn't fall apart. You can relax in faith, trusting that God is able to run things without your help.
Twice in this passage it says, "Don't be afraid," and "Don't be discouraged." When you face a seemingly impossible situation, don't be afraid and don't be discouraged. These passages must be in your heart. If it is not, then you're in for a huge struggle against the flesh. Has God ever lost a battle? No. He doesn't lose battles. And because he’s never lost a battle, we should never be afraid.
In the picture above, Leonidias, king of Sparta (Greece), in the movie, 300, led three hundred born-bred, fighting soldiers against millions of Persian soldiers. The Spartan law is "Never Retreat", "Never Surrender"! They fought and fought and fought and killed hundreds of thousands. They were loyal to their country. They were obedient to the law. They fight to death! Leonidias and his 299 were betrayed by their fellow countrymen, trapped and killed by thousands of arrows. But that wasn't the end. Their bravery insired their fellow countrymen and hundreds of thousands of Spartan soldiers fought against the Persian nation defending Greece. They prevailed!
God has a reputation for winning. We are on the winning side. Regardless of the problems or difficulties or the barriers or the circumstances or the hang-ups or the delays, ultimately, we are on the winning side.
That's good news. When I know that I have given my life completely to Jesus Christ and I'm trying to live for him to the best of my ability, I don't have to sweat the small stuff. I may lose a few skirmishes here and there, but ultimately, I'm on the winning side. Really! If you don't feel you're on the winning side, it's a heart thing. You have not fully surrendered to God or in other words, fully given your heart to God so that He can make your heart His throne.
There's an important phrase in verse 17. God tells Jehoshaphat, "Take up your positions and stand firm." What does it mean to stand firm? It means to have a mental attitude of quiet confidence. It is never God's will for you to run from a difficult situation. Remember the Spartan law: "NEVER RETREAT". I've discovered that when I run from a difficult situation, inevitably God always brings it back around and gives me another chance. It's inevitable. Why? Because God wants us to learn and he wants to teach us through experience that in every situation he is sufficient. He is competent and capable and he will meet our needs in that situation. Don't be afraid – fear is the opposite of faith.
What am I to stand firm on while I'm waiting for God to fight my battles? While I'm waiting for the miracle in my finances or my marriage or my business or whatever, what do I stand firm on? You stand firm on two things:
1) The character of God. He's faithful. He does not bring us this far just to let us down. He doesn't bring you out on a limb and then cut the limb off. Have faith in the nature and character of God.
2) The truth of his Word. God’s Word is faithful. You can count on the promises found in the Bible.
Stand still. Remember Who the battle belongs to. Trust that he is able to deliver you. And then watch him do it!
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