Do Not Give Up!

 

The temptation to give up can be strong sometimes, and it can come over us very suddenly. It happens when we feel discouraged and sense failure. We ask ourselves, “What’s the use? No matter how hard I try, can I change anything?” When the situation seems impossible—that is when we most need to stay the course. If we did give up, what would change? Would things change for the better? Would our life improve and the lives of those around us? The answer is, of course, not.

 When Churchill visited Harrow School on October 29, 1941.

 

You cannot tell from appearances how things will go. Sometimes imagination makes things out far worse than they are; yet without imagination not much can be done. Those people who are imaginative see many more dangers than perhaps exist; certainly many more than will happen; but then they must also pray to be given that extra courage to carry this far-reaching imagination. But for everyone, surely, what we have gone through in this period — I am addressing myself to the School — surely from this period of ten months this is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty — never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy. We stood all alone a year ago, and to many countries it seemed that our account was closed, we were finished. All this tradition of ours, our songs, our School history, this part of the history of this country, were gone and finished and liquidated.

 It was true: the fact that England was still standing, and still fighting, was astounding. It was because they did not give up. Most of that impetus came from Winston Churchill, who would not give up.                                                                                              

                                               

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Whatever is Excellent or Praiseworthy

The connection between our thoughts and our state of mind is real. If our thoughts are filled with negative emotions such as anger, fear, sadness, loneliness, shame, and guilt, then our body and emotional state will be dragged down by these powerful emotions. We experience the full effect of each emotion, which takes its toll on our bodies and leaves us fatigued and unmotivated. The body and mind track our thoughts and accumulate the negative impact. What we think about affects us in so many different ways. The Apostle Paul encouraged the Philippians to be joyful. He exhorted them not to let anxiety take control of their thoughts. He told them that instead of being anxious, they should present their needs to God with a thankful spirit. He assured them that, by choosing to let God have their anxiety, God would give them an extraordinary peace that would guard their hearts and minds (Philippians 4:4-7).

What follows in Paul’s extraordinary letter to the Philippians is a wonderful prescription for elevating our thinking. As a result, our thoughts produce positive emotions such as joy, gratitude, desire, hope, and love. Here is Paul’s advice: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). By thinking on excellent things, our minds have the opportunity to contemplate these things and give us peace and fulfillment.

Whatever is true, we have to sort out the false from the true; whatever is noble. Here is a wonderful word that asks us to look for what has high moral character. Whatever is right. We need to focus on what is right, especially in a culture that turns right upside down and exalts wrong. Whatever is pure—unadulterated. We are bombarded with filth, and we forget that pure things exist—and God wants us to dwell on them. Whatever is lovely, we forget to look around and see the lovely in God’s creation. Whatever is admirable. When we see what is admirable, we are inspired. Paul says, “think about such things.” This is how we change our lives by thinking thoughts that bring inspiration, peace, joy, and courage.   Reading and memorizing Scripture is an excellent way to fulfill Paul’s prescription.

                                                                                              

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Acquiring a Long Perspective

One of the greatest blessings for a young person is gaining a long-term perspective on life. Eugene Peterson defined faithfulness as “A long obedience in the right direction.” The problem with our culture, and often with youth, is that we want things now. We want instant gratification, and we are not willing to wait. This unwillingness to wait robs us of so much in nearly every area of our lives.  Take money, for instance: if a young person develops a long-term perspective and is willing to work hard, save, invest, and wait, that perspective will bring rich dividends over time. This is what Solomon tells us: “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7).

First, remember that you are God’s steward and that everything you have and receive is God’s—you are the manager. Second, managing money always starts with a grateful heart—grateful to God and to others who have contributed to your life. Gratitude reflects how you feel about what God has done for you. Third, start small, but start: start saving, start investing, start giving. Never wait until you have more. Tithe what you have now—not doing so robs God. Fourth, plan to give. Plan to give each week from what you earn. Plan to give to missions and other worthy causes. Fifth, trust God to meet your needs. Trust God to bless you as you give to his work. Sixth, set priorities for what you want to accomplish with the money that comes through your hands. Reflect on these words: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).   

As you save and invest, time will be on your side, and the money and assets will grow. Being generous with what you have and being a good steward will keep you from becoming selfish and greedy. If you use your money wisely, you can be the lender instead of the borrower. Your money will pay you interest instead of you paying interest to someone else. This is what God promised Israel if they were faithful to follow Him: “The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom” (Deuteronomy 28:13).

You must be willing to start small and resist the temptation to get rich overnight because you will not. Take what God gives you and make it grow. Money is only part of your life—your life is so much more. It is your relationship with God, your family, and all the ways you can bless others. If, however, you use the money that comes to you in the right way with the right perspective, you will be a blessing to others in ways you could not have even imagined.    

                                                

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Making The Best Of Every Situation

 

“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:11-12). These are the words of the Apostle Paul written from prison. This didn’t come naturally; it had to be learned. The Apostle says he makes the best of those times when he is in need. When he doesn’t have enough to eat or a warm bed to sleep in, he says he has done this even now when he is in prison. He is grateful for the times when there is plenty, but equally grateful for those times when he doesn’t have enough.

What is this secret that Paul has learned—that has changed his life? The secret that enables him to be content in any and every situation. I think he states it in these words: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). That is an amazing statement which translates to “I can manage with less food, uncomfortable living conditions, because I can do this through Christ who gives me the strength I need. Equally important is that he accepts those times when he has more than enough. These times don’t seem to spoil the Apostle or make him think he deserves to live this way all the time.

Isn’t this a secret we all need? We often think, “If I just had more money, more opportunity, more success, more influence, how different my life would be.” This secret teaches us to believe that God is in control and that He gives us the plenty and the want, the feast and the famine. If this is true, we can, like Paul says, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.” This is a life-changing mentality. We don’t need anyone else in life; we don’t need anything else to make us fulfilled because we have Christ. He gives us the strength to face each situation.

What situation is robbing you of your joy? What need is causing you to envy your neighbor and think I would be happy if I had what he has? No, if you have Christ, you have all you need to experience real, authentic joy.

Paul exhorts us to work on our thinking: “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). There is a serious connection between what we think about and how we feel. This is also part of the secret.

 

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When Life is on Hold

When life feels like it is on hold, we are most apt to feel discouraged.

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn writes in The Gulag Archipelago the benefits of his prison experience:

…In the intoxication of youthful successes I had felt myself to be infallible, and I was therefore cruel. In the surfeit of power I was a murderer, and an oppressor. In my most evil moments I was convinced that I was doing good, and I was well supplied with systematic arguments. And it was only when I lay there on rotting prison straw that I sensed within myself the first stirrings of good. Gradually, it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, not between classes, not between political parties either—but right through every human heart—and through all human hearts…So, bless you, prison, for having been in my life.

When the Biblical Joseph wound up in prison both times, he found his way out and up because he committed his life to the sovereignty of God. It wasn’t fair of his brothers to sell him into slavery, nor was it fair that Potiphar’s wife unfairly accused him of sexual assault, but he trusted God to deliver him. He was in prison, and his life was on hold. When the Apostle Paul was in prison in Rome, he modeled this attitude: “Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,  for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.” (Philippians 1:15-19)

It is hard to remain faithful when life seems to be on hold, especially if we put our confidence in man, because human beings will fail us. But we remember that God is with us. As Jeremiah told us in one of his worst moments: “I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail” (Lamentations 3:19:24).  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

We must learn to trust God’s timing, and if we do, God will bless us in the moment of our prison, when life is on hold. We feel we are limited, but God is not. Our best moments can come from those times when life is on hold, and it seems that nothing is happening. Only trust God, and he will deliver you!

 

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This is How You Stand Firm

In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he shares one thing he does: he forgets everything behind and focuses on what is ahead. That is good advice for all of us because the past often hinders us from going forward. Paul would say to you today: “Forget the past and let Jesus help you move forward!”

Paul encourages these young believers to place all their confidence in Christ rather than in their own strength. The Apostle did that once, believing he was faultless in his obedience to the law, and then he met Jesus. Here is his testimony:

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:7-11).

For Paul is Jesus; focusing on Jesus is his goal, and Christ is the prize Philippians 3:13-17). The Apostle encourages the believers in Philippi to follow his example and that of other mature Christians. Paul makes it clear that he does not consider himself a perfect example, but rather one who is truly committed to Christ.

At the same time, Paul warns these believers that there are enemies of Jesus living around us. They live for the moment because they only think about earthly things. We, however, are citizens of heaven and live in the anticipation of the Second Coming of Christ, who will one day come and transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body (Philippians 3:17-22).

Then Paul says, “that is how you should stand firm in the Lord” (Philippians 4:1). With all our confidence in Christ—forgetting what is behind; grateful we know him and excited about his coming- we stand firm. This is what we look forward to and wait for. This is what keeps us going. This is what we get up to and start another day. 

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Accommodation

Life is about 5% of what we plan for and 95% of what we don’t. Life has a way of throwing undesirable events into our lives unexpectedly. Successfully living is about our ability to deal with the unexpected. We have to accommodate for these things. It is God who gives us the knowledge and strength to respond. If a person does not adapt but instead becomes bitter, they will lose their enjoyment and sense of purpose in life.

If a person suffers a traumatic event, they will often suffer intrusive and painful thoughts about the event until they can accommodate what happened. Through accommodation, they can make some meaning out of the meaningless event. Unfortunately, some people are never able to do this in the face of the tragedies of their lives. Even though the years pass, time brings no healing. Instead, they experience distress from their memories of those traumatic events. They blame others, they blame God, or even themselves, which brings anger and guilt. These intrusive memories work with a domino effect and trigger feelings of loss or shame.

The Bible gives us a wonderful picture of how God deals with traumatic events in our lives through the word "redemption." When God redeems us, he accommodates the meaningless events of our lives. God has the ultimate power to take whatever we give him and make something meaningful out of it. When Paul wrote to the Ephesians, he said this: “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (Eph. 1:7).

Nowhere do we see the price of our redemption clearer than in the sufferings of Jesus. His suffering was colossal and incomparable, but it was to help us accommodate the meaningless transgressions of our lives. Jesus not only suffered for us, but also showed us how to suffer. He never lost control, never became resentful or vengeful of those who hurt him.

God is at work in those who are committed to Him and who trust Him. Paul wrote the Philippians these wise words: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act to fulfill his good purpose” Philippians (2:12-13).

The belief that God is at work in my life gives me hope. It tells me I am not alone. It tells me that he is helping me to live in a way that fulfills His purpose in my life. It tells me that he is helping me cope with all the unexpected things that happen in life.

 

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The Dignity of Private Property

Hard work pays great dividends. When one commits himself to working hard and saving, they will one day be in a position to buy and own property. Listen to Solomon: “Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth” (Proverbs 10:4). Becoming debt-free and owning your own home, car, or even your own business brings about the dignity of independence. It gives you a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. As Christians, we give God the glory for allowing us to work and own property. For example, when you own your own home, you are no longer dependent on the borrower or the government. You no longer pay interest to use someone else’s money: “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). You owe no one, and you have achieved the dignity of owning private property. This can only be achieved in a system that rewards hard work and allows ownership of private property. Socialism and Communism are systems that empower the government to own everything. The government becomes the master of everyone. They dictate the terms of work. They tell you where you will live and what you will and won’t have. The government places the limits on your potential.

Socialism is really a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It declares that it will defend the little guy. It will give you housing, medical care, and retirement. In short, it promises to take care of everyone from the cradle to the grave. That sounds good to the young person who doesn’t have much. They are glad to hear that Socialism promises to take from the rich and spread the wealth. What they don’t realize is that the government will eventually own the means of production and commerce, and everyone will be treated as equals. That is true—everyone will begin a journey toward poverty, both the rich and the poor. One thing is for sure: Socialism takes away the dignity of hard work and owning private property because the government owns everything. The motivation to work hard disappears because you have no reason to work hard. Work as hard as you like, you will still wind up in the same place.

In the United States, the Socialist Party has come out of the woodwork in preparation for our coming election this November. They are promising free childcare, free healthcare, free transportation, free housing, and some even free universal income. This is a lie! None of these things can be achieved because the country will become bankrupt in the process.

It is a good time to mention a few places where this grand experiment of Socialism has been tried: The Soviet Union under Stalin, China under Mao, North Korea under Kim Jong Un, Cuba under Fidel Castro, Venezuela under Maduro, Nicaragua under Daniel Ortega, Cambodia under Pol Pot. Need I go on? I ask you why anyone would consider Socialism or Communism a viable government option after the blatant failures of so many places where it has been tried. Each of these countries called itself some form of “People’s Republic,” all the while being cruel totalitarian states.

Those who promise these wonderful things want power, so they promise the world, but they can never deliver on their promises, and they know they can’t. When poverty comes to the country, they do not experience it. They continue to live lives of opulence and power, not affected by the disastrous economy they created. Socialism and Communism bring poverty: “Poverty will come on you like a thief, and scarcity like an armed man” (Proverbs 6:11).

What Has Happened To Me

In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, we find tenderness: “Every time I think of you,” In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy,” “I have you in my heart,” I love you with the affection of Christ Jesus.” The letter expresses Paul’s love, concern, and encouragement for these believers. But he also answers some questions that these believers had. “Why had God allowed Paul to be in prison instead of out there preaching the gospel?” Paul answers with these words: “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear” (Philippians 1:12-14).

This unfortunate thing of me being arrested and sent to Rome has actually served to advance the Kingdom of God. Can you believe that right here under Caesar’s nose, the Praetorium Guard is receiving the gospel along with many others? Not only that, but because I am here in this prison, it has inspired the brothers and sisters of Rome to share their faith boldly.

Is this not the greatest example of God’s sovereign grace? God was behind the Jewish conspiracy to have Paul arrested and the order to have him sent to Rome to be tried by Caesar—at least God was working in all of it for his glory. Nothing escapes God’s attention. Of course, Paul was a willing vessel for God to work with. This could not have happened if Paul had been wallowing in a sea of self-pity and resentment. But Paul chose to believe God was still directing his life; that is why he says, “I am in chains for Christ.”

What chains do you find around your life? In what prison have you landed? Have you submitted to God’s hand? If you do, he will use your circumstances for his glory and the advance of the gospel.

Paul knows living for God is not easy, but he also knows that having a good attitude helps, so he says: “Let your attitude be the same as Christ Jesus” (Phil 1:5). Then Paul beautifully explains how Christ laid aside his heavenly place of power and majesty to become a servant to save us. So Paul says,

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky” (Philippians 2:14-15). This is not easy, but it is our goal to live each day this way.

Jeremiah’s Complaint

Jeremiah is perplexed. He has some things that are bothering him, and he wants to get them out, so he tells God what is on his mind. The truth is God already knew what was on Jeremiah’s mind. Jeremiah begins by saying that God is always right. Does he really believe that? I think he does, and his life is a testimony to his belief, None-the-less he has a complaint for God:

Jeremiah 12:1-2 You are always righteous, O Lord, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts.

Jeremiah wants to know:

•  How can you let evil people prosper?

•  How is it that you allow them to have it so good?

•  Why are crooks allowed to rip people off and get away with it?

•  Why would you let hypocrites get by with wrong?

Jeremiah believes he deserves an answer to this dilemma. Can you explain this apparent inconsistency to me, God? He expected God to explain how he could be sovereign and holy while human depravity exists side by side and God seems to ignore it. Jeremiah seems to be demanding an answer from God on this subject.

But God’s Answer Was Much Different

Jeremiah 12:5 “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?

God was saying to Jeremiah, "If you can’t handle what is going on now, how do you expect to handle what’s in store for you tomorrow?" If this blows you out of the water, what will you do when greater tests come?

• Have you developed the attitude of complaining instead of trusting God with your burdens?

• Have you fallen into the habit of wanting sympathy instead of facing the challenges that God has sent your way?

• Do you let the little things in life discourage you and keep you from seeing the big picture?

• If you complain about the simple routine God has given you, how do you expect him to give you more important tasks?

• If you stumble with a few ounces of burden, how do you expect him to give you a larger burden of responsibility?

God is Our Refuge

David said, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging” (Ps. 46:1-3). We all know what trouble is. All of us deal with it, but the difference is, like David, we have a refuge, an ever-present help in time of trouble. This refuge is our place to take shelter—a place to run in the storm for protection. God is that refuge!

This week I was on the playground, where children played loudly, and I looked up and saw a bird sitting on her eggs. She was ever so gentle and peaceful, doing what she was created to do even while the children played below. It reminded me of this verse: “Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young — a place near your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you (Ps. 84:3-4). We are never more at home than when we are in God’s house with God’s people praising Him. We can live in this troubled world and be at peace.

Life can be very difficult, with its emotional storms that bring on discouragement, frustration, hopelessness, and feelings of inadequacy. We often respond by withdrawing, and our motivation evaporates into thin air. Our contact with others diminishes, and we feel a lack of energy. Prolonged discouragement can be dangerous because we become aimless, but if we seek God as our refuge during this period, we can find renewed hope and purpose. It is our choice, as Isaiah says:  “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it” (Isaiah 30:15). If we turn to God and make him our refuge and repent of our wrongdoing, we will find rest, but if we refuse, our discouragement will only grow worse.

We cannot make our lives truly good without God’s help, but with God we can experience transformation: “The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever” (Isaiah 32:17). That sounds pretty good. It is worth a try!

 

Happy Birthday America

On July 4, 2026, America will turn 250 years old. What an amazing country. The American Revolution produced a country of self-government with a framework constitution that has protected our democracy. Thirteen years after the American War of Independence, the French Revolution occurred. This revolution was very different; it sought to eliminate its own citizens- everyone who disagreed or who might potentially disagree. These kinds of revolutions have occurred in Russia, China, and many other places. The Constitution has guided us with the blessings of God, and for that we are thankful.

Amazingly, this country has survived the many threats to our democracy, including the Civil War. Now we face a threat from those who want to change this country into a communist country, even though Communism has failed wherever it has been tried, except for those in power. They live very differently from the hordes of people held in its grip. Russia, China, North Korea, and Cuba are examples of governments that control their people and allow very little freedom. Freedom is the one thing they are most afraid of—because when people taste freedom, they will fight to keep it.

Although the War of Independence would be fought for eight long years, and most of those years it appeared the United States would lose. It was mostly a war of perseverance; if Washington and his ragtag army could manage to hang in there, Britain would grow tired of spending so much money on a foreign war. Everything finally came together for Washington and his troops in Yorktown, Virginia, in the final year of the war. The Americans fought bravely, and the French Navy blocked the British Navy from escaping. On October 17, 1782, General Cornwallis surrendered. It was never supposed to have happened, but it did. The Thirteen Colonies were free, and the war was finally over.

On September 17, 1787, the United States Constitution was passed in Congress and ratified by the states on June 21, 1788. What a wonderful document our founding fathers gave us. It has endured these 250 years and has preserved our freedom and liberty. There have been times when it has been assailed from all sides, and it is still attacked today. We pray that it will be safeguarded and remain a beacon of hope and light for our country. God was with our nation at its founding, and we need Him with us now to restore our faith in Him as a nation. We need God today more than ever.

 

 

 

Perseverance in Your Faith

We are pilgrims, much like Christian and Christina in The Pilgrim’s Progress, making our way from our own Egypt to our heavenly reward. The Apostle Paul said to the Philippians: “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:20-21). Likewise, we desire to represent Christ in our daily walk so that we have nothing to be ashamed of. But beyond that, Paul wanted to exalt Christ—that was his primary goal in life. In fact, if he could be with Christ all the time, he would choose that:

Philippians 1:22-25 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!  I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,

We, too, living in this broken world, would like the Apostle to choose to go home to our heavenly reward, but that is not God’s will for us. So, like Paul, we choose to live for others—to bring them joy and to see them grow in their faith. To bring joy to someone is very gratifying, but to bring the joy of the Gospel is exhilarating.

What does it take to persevere in the face of hardships and not lose our joy? It requires that we keep our focus on Christ, who is the prize. That is what these words from Paul mean. We can’t allow discouragement to stop us. We can’t allow hurts to fester and bring resentment or anger. Then what do we do? How do we keep going? We persevere! We keep on going! We hang on to His Word! We hide it in our hearts! We ask him to comfort us and send relief through the Holy Spirit. When we ask, he hears and responds. He is mindful of our struggles. We must turn to Him and not away from Him.

 

Acknowledge God

Sometimes, we find ourselves weighed down by problems that seem completely overwhelming and unsolvable. It is in these moments that we need God’s help, whether we realize it or not. However, it is important to examine our lives and honestly ask ourselves, is any of this problem happening because I have rebelled against God? What is it that I am refusing to address? Why am I so angry and resentful? Why will I not forgive? Why does fear control my life? These questions have to be answered.

We must ask ourselves, “Am I here because I have ignored the principles of His Word?” If the answer is yes, then we need to acknowledge our sin of disobedience and ask God to forgive us. God requires that we be honest with him. He won’t force us because he has given us free will to choose our response, whether it pleases or disappoints him. However, if we confess our sin and acknowledge our need for God, He will respond. Hosea says it like this:

Hosea 6:3 "Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."

What a wonderful illustration of God’s goodness, just as the needed rain waters the thirsty earth, so God’s grace waters our souls. The very thing we long for is God. Like the prophet Jonah, we may have run from God, but now we turn to him. Then He appears. Jeremiah says something similar:

Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

We can never find God until we seek him with all our hearts, because he won’t allow it. But when we put all our heart and soul into the search, he lets us find him. That is good news for the weary soul who is longing for something more—that something is God!

 

 

 

 

Learning to Trust God

This journey in life is too difficult to make on our own. We need God’s help and encouragement from others to learn how to trust God. We don’t naturally trust; we have to learn how to trust. Likewise, learning to trust God takes years of practice. David describes trust like this: “But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me” (Psalm 131:2). A child most naturally resists the time to be weaned from its mother’s milk because it is what it knows. But it is in the child’s own best interest to take this step. It is time to grow and eat solid food. Steve Farrar writes in his book Courage, “Weaning is the first great disappointment of life. No matter what our age, however, God is continually weaning us from places or positions where we have found comfort, peace, security, nourishment, or affirmation. Sometimes we fight with everything we have to maintain those places of safety, comfort, and security—especially if it involves our income stream.” However, in all these situations, we are forced to either trust God or rely on our own intelligence. Solomon wisely said: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). 

Leaning on our own understanding is dangerous, even though it often seems right. Much like refusing to follow your GPS because it just feels like the right way to go, only to later find out you should have heeded it.

When we are going through a time when nothing makes sense, and it feels as if God has abandoned us, it is very difficult to trust God. Some things in our lives are not right, mistakes are happening, and God has to use difficult measures to keep us on the right path. We are often lured by our desires and tempted by the world around us. So how does God get our attention? Pain is one of the ways he uses to get us to listen to Him. It is those moments that we have to learn to trust God.

Whatever we plan, we must first commit to God. It must have his approval to succeed. Again, Solomon gives us good advice: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans”(Proverbs 16:3). If God says yes, we proceed; if he says no, we don’t. It’s that simple and that real. If we learn to do this, we will save ourselves so much heartache.

 

 

The Nine Fruits of the Spirit

Paul’s letter to the Galatians lists these fruits: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Nine incredible ways to know that God is at work in our lives. First of all, they are fruits that God produces as a result of our surrendered lives to him. They come from him and are a part of him. Love is what God has shown to each of us. He helps us love others. It’s not hard to love people who are nice to us, but it is difficult to love the unlovely. This fruit loves unconditionally. The next fruit is joy. God gives us the ability to have joy in the middle of sorrow. It’s a joy that comes from the Lord, and it gives us strength to endure trials as Jesus did. Joy enables us to enjoy our lives with those around us. It comes from God, and the world can’t take it away from us. When this fruit is evident, we are free from the anxieties of life because of the wonderful peace God has placed within our hearts. Next comes patience. We are, by default, impatient, especially with others. When this fruit is present, we demonstrate patience with others. Only God can give us that noble quality.

The next is gentleness, which is power under control. Jesus was so gentle with bruised hearts and spirits that were barely flickering with life. His words and actions conveyed kindness and gentleness. Kindness, another fruit, flows out of a gentle spirit. With a gentle spirit and kind words, we enrich the lives of people around us. Next is goodness, which is what is on the inside of us. It is what makes up our character. Integrity is not what we do, so much as who we are. It determines what we do, and it becomes the navigation system that guides us. Next is faithfulness or trustworthiness. Faithfulness determines how reliable we are. When you are working and living among faithful people, you grow rather than shrivel up around unreliable people. Another aspect of gentleness and faithfulness is humility. Gentle and faithful people are always humble. Peter described humility as “the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit” (1 Peter 3:3-4). Lastly, there is self-control; this is really the vehicle in which all the other fruits are transported to others.  Without self-control, we have no patience, no love, no joy, no peace, or any other fruit. Solomon said this: “Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city” (Prov. 16:32). Self-control demonstrates the Spirit of Christ in our lives, and it enables us to choose God’s will over our own will.

 

God’s Answer to Anxiety

Who doesn’t experience Anxiety in this life? It is more common to humanity than any of us care to admit. No one is exempt. We are anxious about what has happened, what is happening, and what will happen. Anxiety is a thief that steals our peace and enjoyment in life. We worry about outcomes, whether they will be good or bad. We worry about people—our friends, family, and ourselves. We worry about our health and our money. These feelings of Anxiety come from a host of different reasons, from things not going our way to being mistreated, insulted, or neglected. Interestingly, the older we get, the more Anxiety we are prone to experience.

Jesus told us not to worry: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ( Matthew 6:25). Jesus’ words are profound! Life has to be more—it has to have meaning and purpose, God-given purpose. We know that God put each of us here for a reason.

Anxiety is nothing new, because Solomon, in his book of Ecclesiastes, gives us some good advice on how to lessen it. Solomon said, “So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 11:10). He knows from experience that our world, in its broken state, brings us loss and many troubles. He tells us to cast off these troubles. In other words, rather than dwelling on what has happened to us, which usually perpetuates the problem, cast it off by giving it to God. Peter also tells us: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

The prophet Isaiah had some things to say about Anxiety: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength” (Isaiah 30:15). We will never know true peace unless we repent of our sins and find God’s forgiveness. The Christian life is one of quiet trust in God’s strength. God will take care of us. We may face difficult times ahead, but he will be with us. God gives us light in our darkness: “when his lamp shone on my head and by his light I walked through darkness!” (Job 29:3).

Isaiah says, “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore, he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! (Isaiah 30:18). It is not always easy to trust God and allow him to calm our hearts, but this is the only way we will truly experience peace without Anxiety.

 

Grace Makes Life Enjoyable

One of the best things we can do is to learn to appreciate the present circumstances of our lives. When we do, we avoid the deadly trap of always waiting and hoping for the time when everything will be perfect. Perfect doesn’t exist on this earth, and we will never see perfection until Heaven. Accepting our life doesn’t mean we don’t strive for improvement. Doing the best we can is part of who we are as committed believers of Christ. However, when we hold onto unrealistic expectations for ourselves and others, we contribute to our own sadness. Paul encouraged us to think like this: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Col. 3:23-24). So often, our dream of perfection is about more money and more things. Paul warned us about this: “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Tim. 6:17). God wants us to enjoy our life, with him, with our family and friends and be grateful for what he has given us.

Our need for grace is great. We need grace from God and from others, and we need to show grace to God. In Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian was shown a room full of dust. A damsel came into the room and began sweeping. She stirred up so much dust that Christian began to choke. Then she fetched a pail of water, sprinkled the floor, and swept. Now there was very little dust. The interpreter who was explaining the meaning told him sweeping without the water was the work of the law. It does not do the job, and it is painful in its effort. The springled water was the work of grace. Likewise, when we expect perfection out of our children, our spouses, we choke the life out of them. When, however, we give them grace, we see them flourish.

Job said this world is full of trouble and we cannot avoid it, “Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7). We can, however, face that trouble with grace, which makes our life so very different.

Paul viewed his trouble of being a Roman prisoner with grace: “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear” (Philippians 1:12-14). What a difference grace makes!

Good Advice

Good advice is hard to come by. In fact, people pay high prices for expert advice. There are financial, legal, medical, psychological, and exercise specialists. However, often the common-sense advice we need for daily living is even harder to find. One man named John wrote letters in the New Testament filled with good, common-sense advice. He was one of Jesus’ disciples, and he was in his 90s when he wrote these letters. Here are some basic guidelines for living e gave us.

Don’t Let Sin Trap You: “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin” (1 John 2:1). We are to learn to beware of sin because it is a trap. We can find ourselves trapped before we even know it, so John says, aware of sin, especially sexual traps. Pornography is a trap that has ruined the lives of many men today.

Walk With Jesus: “…But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense — Jesus Christ, the Righteous One” (1 John 2:1). This means everyday communion and engagement with Jesus, not just on Sundays.

Remember You Have an Advocate: “….But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense — Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2). There is a good chance we will mess up, but John says Jesus will intercede for you, and you can and will be forgiven if you come in repentance.

You are a Child of God! Live Like it!: “….The man who says, ‘I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him…This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did” (1 John 2:3-6). Living out the faith in everyday life is our greatest challenge. I like to call it authenticity.

Our Respect for God Translates into Our Obedience: “But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him” (1 John 2:5). Obeying Jesus’ words and living like him show our deepest respect for Christ. It means we honor him as our Lord!

Jesus is Your Hero:  “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6). There is no better hero than Jesus; no one is more worthy to imitate than the one who died for us.

There you have it—six basic rules that will literally make a difference in our lives.  When we really understand how dangerous sin is, we will stay away from it.  That means we will remove ourselves from the temptation the way Joseph did when he ran from Potiphar’s wife.  John advises us to take the scriptures literally.

Hope Shines Through The Darkness

 

Everyone needs hope to live, no matter who you are or where you live. Easter is the time of year that reminds each of us that there is hope. Maybe your hope has dimmed, and the light is barely shining. Many of you are burdened with troubles and find yourselves in the midst of a personal crisis, but so were the first Christians on that very first Resurrection Sunday morning. Just as those first believers found life to be a dead-end street with no future, you too may feel the same. They came to realize that Jesus really did die, but he also really did rise from the dead. For you this morning, it may feel like there is a three-ton boulder blocking your path, but on the first Easter, they found the stone already rolled away. The angel of the Lord had come and moved the stone, not for Jesus, but for those who needed to verify that Jesus was risen. Maybe it feels like all hope is gone for you. It is hard for you to find motivation, even to do the most basic things. Your joy is gone. You are not alone. It was this way for the followers of Christ after Jesus died on the cross. With Jesus’ death came the death of all their hopes and dreams.

The women who went to the tomb early on Sunday Morning did not go thinking they would find an empty tomb, but rather a dead body. However, the resurrection of Jesus changed everything. I invite you to take a look at the empty tomb, and you, too, will find that He is risen. Easter means Jesus is risen from the dead, and death could not hold him. That ugly monster of death, which has intimidated every person who has ever lived, has met its match. The prophets said that Jesus’ body would never see decay, and they were right: three days later, he arose from the dead. Easter means Jesus is alive. It means he is present with us. He is here! However, this is not just an announcement; it is a day to respond to God’s invitation to receive life. It is a day to embrace God with all your heart. I encourage you today to open your heart and allow God to speak to you. Jesus died for you, and he will transform your life if you let him. Because Jesus is alive, you can have hope for this life and the next.