faith

The Measure of Contentment

What does being content mean? Too often I think “when I get to this certain place, I will be content.” That’s wrong for two reasons. First, it completely negates the present time, and second, it doesn’t turn out to be true. Any time I’ve gotten to “that certain place” it doesn’t satisfy like I think it will. Now you may already be thinking, “Lauren, you’re supposed to be content in the Lord.” And you would be right! But again, I have to ask myself, what does that mean? What does that look like for me to be content in the Lord?

This has been a long process for me, not because the Lord hasn’t been wonderful. He’s shown me boundless love when He speaks, disciplines, comforts, provides, and leads. When I’ve allowed myself to face the truth, the root of the problem is me, namely, my pride. I’ve let this sin reside in me for a long time, but it’s been conniving, masquerading itself as high achievement and determination to excel. To want to excel is not wrong in and of itself, but when it’s never enough, there’s something out of place. This may sound juvenile, but I loved being a student because I was graded. I could see a physical sign of the outcome of my efforts. Those achievements gave me a tangible sense of worth, whether I consciously realized it or not. I just had to know that I was doing everything right because failure wasn’t an option. While striving for excellence can be admirable, it made me afraid to fail at anything. It made me not want to try things that I wasn’t good at. School is where I felt safe so I got a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree all while seeking approval from others in various ways.

But next came being in the real world, and instead of striving for excellence out of my comfort zone, I settled for jobs where I knew I couldn’t really fail. The Lord was gracious to promote me at times, but it wasn’t until I finally pursued teaching (the first time) that I was tested. However, instead of relying on the Lord for guidance and understanding, all I could see was failure after failure. Eventually, I let my anxiety break me to a point I never thought possible, especially as a Christian. That anxiety and depression turned to shame and guilt, which only made it worse.

My pride was saying that I shouldn’t have failed, that it wasn’t an option. But that was a lie. Failure is a part of life that pushes us forward to success if we allow it to. I just couldn’t see that yet. Thankfully, the Lord God blessed me with a family who encouraged me but also didn’t sugarcoat the fact that my pride was truly my downfall. By the grace of God, I slowly climbed out of the pit as I held on to His extended hand. The Lord opened another door for teaching shortly thereafter, and although I was apprehensive, I followed where He led, and He blessed me. There were certainly challenges along the way, but I was able to apply what I learned before and try new things.

However, the Lord has a way of not letting me get too comfortable. I could probably stay in the same routine for the rest of my life if the Lord let me, but another opportunity came up to have a family business. It started growing while I was still teaching, and it got to the point where I had to choose. After much prayer, I chose to quit teaching and focus on the business where I could also be home with my son. The Lord opened the floodgates, and we were getting so many orders that it was hard to keep up. It became a full time job, and old pride was right at my doorstep. “Keep going, you’re helping your family by spending all your time here.” “This is your worth. Look how much you’re making.” So I kept pushing and soon it became my main focus. Work longer. Please your customers. Make money. This is your value to your family. Such thoughts and actions led to strife, and once again, discontentment. It was the same story with different clothes on: pride masquerading as high achievement with the drive to excel at all costs. It wasn’t until I finally stopped and spent time with the Lord about it that He showed me my pride was getting in the way, and I was not acting Christ-like. I also had a lot more to learn about business because even though it looked like I was making X amount of money, I really wasn’t making much at all. But instead of telling me to give it up, the Lord directed me to stop using that outlet for business and use a different one, making smarter and better business decisions along the way. The idea of practically starting over was daunting, but it was a clear message.

I worked and worked to get everything ready, but I was pursuing it at my pace to meet my schedule. Looking back I can’t help thinking, do I ever learn? When I thought I was done, I found out that I had to go over everything again in more detail…and I had to rely on someone else for help. I’ve never liked doing that because I want to do things my way and my pace. As you can see, pride was still hanging around. Another month and a half goes by, and I’m finally ready to reopen, but not much has happened. With all my efforts and hours of connecting with customers and trying social media outlets, I’ve only had a raindrop of orders. Then I hear myself asking God, “Didn’t you tell me to do this, to make a change? Wasn’t this supposed to be successful? I’ve worked so hard, why isn’t this working?” When I finally stopped to listen, He spoke a very clear message: “You have made this your source of contentment.” And then I understood.

Like past times in my life, I get going on what God leads me to do, but then I turn the task into my measure of contentment. I allow what’s good to be overtaken by pride. Pride leads me away from the Lord and turns into strife, frustration, anger and discontentment. Now that I know what the problem is, the Lord has told me to write all of these things so that I can now strive to understand contentment, not only to be accountable for my actions but to also have His truth in the forefront of my mind.

So what is God’s truth regarding contentment? Two passages have been circulating in my mind. The first place to start is in Philippians. Paul and Timothy are writing to the church in Philippi while Paul is imprisoned for the cause of Christ. They encourage the church to remain faithful and bold for the cause of Christ even in the midst of suffering as Paul has experienced and to be united in love and humility rather than become selfish and vain. Paul describes Christ as the ultimate example, writing, “Although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (2:6-8). As Christ is our example, contentment begins with selflessness and humility. He could’ve lorded His power over everyone and everything but chose contentment in the imperfect form of humanity to fulfill His purpose, spurned by love for us. In chapter 3 of the letter, Paul also encourages the Philippians to not listen to those who say they need to be circumcised in the flesh but reminds them that their righteousness comes from God through faith. They should remain steadfast and press on. In the final chapter, the church is encouraged to “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (4:6-7).

Contentment has no room for anxiety because it is built on faith, believing that God will take care of things we need. It may not always be the time we expect or in the form we want, but He will hear and answer. In verse 10, Paul expresses his joy that the Philippians were able to provide for his needs, but then he continues saying, “Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (4:11-13). Contentment can be found in the poorest and richest of circumstances when the Lord is at the center of it. Contentment can’t be based on financial circumstances because those can change at any moment for any reason. In both situations, we must have faith in the Lord. In poor circumstances, we must have faith that the Lord will provide for what we need. In rich circumstances, we must have faith to be generous to further God’s kingdom and to use it for His purpose. This brings us to the next passage.

In Matthew 6 Jesus is speaking to His disciples about how to be different from the world, namely to focus on the eternal rather than temporary physical and emotional gains. He gives instructions about fasting in secret so that only the Father sees rather than man and about storing up treasures in heaven rather than on earth (vv. 16-21). He addresses the contrast of light and darkness, and more explicitly states in v. 24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” In researching the word used for “wealth” (Greek: mamona), it has a negative connotation of worldly wealth. The idea of being a servant is complete devotion to something. As servants of the Lord, we can’t truly be devoted to God and to something else. Does God bless people with wealth? Yes! We can read about a number of people throughout Scripture who have used their wealth to honor the Lord. But in this passage, it’s a matter of where our devotion and faith lie. Are they with the Lord or with the world? Jesus expounds on His statement in v. 25, “For this reason (referencing back to v. 24) I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” In verses 26-30 He continues to talk about how the Lord provides for nature in many different ways so how much more will He provide for us who are made in His image! Therefore, ““Do not worry then, saying ‘What will we eat?’ Or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own”” (vv. 31-34).

Looking at this passage in terms of contentment, it boils back down to faith. Do we let our emotions, our anxiety, sway with what we see in the world? Or do we remain devoted to the Lord, trusting that He already knows what we need? Are we living in a state of “what will happen tomorrow?” rather than “how can I be content right now?” Another point to think about from this passage is how much value we have to God. Jesus elaborates how the birds of the air are fed, lilies are clothed more beautifully than Solomon, and the grass is clothed even though it will easily and quickly be burned up. We are His children for whom Jesus (at the time He’s speaking in this passage) is getting ready to sacrifice Himself. We already have immense value without having to earn it. In this passage Jesus is not only teaching truth to His disciples, but He’s preparing them for what’s to come. Some of them left their livelihoods and families to follow Christ. Later on in His ministry, Jesus tells His close disciples to take nothing with them on their travels and other times to bring what He tells them to. In every circumstance, they are being asked to have faith that God will provide the right people in the right places to give what they need. Is this not an example for us? The only way to be content in all circumstances is to seek the Lord and His kingdom first, have faith that He already knows what we need, and trust that whatever the outcome may be, the Lord’s will is best. Faith, of course, is always tested. Will we fail sometimes? Yes. I know I have many times. Jesus’ closest disciples did too. But that wasn’t the end of their ministry, and it won’t be the end of ours either. Rather, may those failures refine us to become better servants of Christ devoted wholly to Him.

~~~

Below is a quick contentment check I created while writing this post to help me when pride wants to come knocking. I plan to print it out to help keep me straight. Feel free to click on this link to use it for yourself or create your own and even add to it.

My Contentment Check

Am I:

  1. Acting out of selflessness? What can I do for others in the Body of Christ? (Philippians 2)
  2. Basing decisions in faith (not anxiety) while maintaining devotion to the Lord? (Philippians 4; Matthew 6)
  3. Basing my contentment on financial circumstances? Remember, contentment can be found in poor and rich circumstances alike with the Lord at the center (Philippians 4; Matthew 6)
  4. Focused on the present rather than the past or future? (Matthew 6:34)
  5. Embracing that the Lord values me without having to earn it (Matthew 6:30)

©Lauren Demuth

“If the Lord Wills”

James 4:13-15, “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.’”

Ephesians 5:15-17, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

                                                                                      ~~~~~

These are two passages written by different men to different audiences within the church. James is a Jew writing to a Jewish audience who has been scattered (James 1:1), and Paul is also a Jew, but he’s writing to the Ephesians, a Greek audience. Yet they both focus on the Lord’s will rather than following our own. It is ingrained in us–at least those of us from Western culture–to have a plan for the future, whether it’s tomorrow, a year from now or 10 years from now. I am a list-making, planning type of person. When a wrench is thrown into those plans, it’s difficult for me to adjust. I’ve gotten better over the years, but I get so focused on a task that a deterrent can change my attitude like a switch. Unfortunately, that attitude change affects my family the most. These last couple of weeks, the Lord has been constantly reminding me to say, “If the Lord wills, I will do this or that.” Having a business where I want to maintain customer satisfaction (having been a people-pleaser my whole life), I can get too focused on that. There are deadlines and remaking items that failed the first time. But then the wrench is thrown. People are sick in the house, I need to help. Our water heater rusted out, I need to watch the kids while others fix the problem. Family goes out of town so there’s less time in the shop. Animals need to be fed. Basketball practice and games come up. In short, life happens.

When I stop to think and pray about why it’s so hard to let my plans go, I realize it comes down to one main issue: control. I want to control what happens so it is done my way in the timing I think it should be done. There are a number of “I’s” and “my’s” in that statement–and there lies the problem. When I tell the Lord He is the Savior of my life and trust Him, giving up control is part of that. Not that I am a robot, but rather, understanding that His ways are truly much greater than my own. In the end, I never regret it when I trust Him and hand over control because the outcome is always better. It may not be what I expect, or the outcome may not be known right away. But it is always good. As a parent, I’m starting to understand that more. I always want the best for my son even though he may not think I’m being nice all the time. He may be having fun doing one thing, but I know it will lead to danger so I tell him to stop. He may never understand why I’m so adamant, but I do. Doesn’t the Lord do that with us as our loving Father? I am reminded of a couple of passages (although there are many more):

Luke 11:9-13, “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

Hebrews 12:7-11, “It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”

Even though I may think that trying to fulfill tasks is no big deal, it becomes a matter of flesh versus Spirit when I can’t accomplish what I want and my behavior changes. It’s the negative changes that occur over time and the affects that those changes have on others that should make me pause and ask myself, “Am I putting the Lord first?” “Am I putting my family next?” “Am I demonstrating Christ-like behavior to those around me?” “Why is this making me angry?” “What is the outcome if I don’t finish; is it as bad as I think it will be?” “What does the Lord want me to do, even if it’s not what I want in this moment?”

Habits and mindsets are difficult to break but not impossible. If we want to strive to do the Lord’s will and fulfill what HE has for us, parts of ourselves need to be broken and re-shaped to become more like Christ. While painful, it’s for our good, and ultimately, for His glory. We may live in this world, but our focus should not be on the things of this world. If I don’t become who the Lord has called me to be, the only person standing in my way is me. The Lord is the good Father who answers when we call. Will we listen to His response?

Why Would God Tell You That?

Is that a question you’ve heard before? Or maybe it was implied by someone’s response to you sharing what’s been on your heart. You felt confident God was calling you in one direction, but those around you couldn’t understand it or thought you’re behavior was irrational. “Certainly God wouldn’t call you to leave what you know and go somewhere foreign.” Or “God wouldn’t call you to quit your job and start something new”. Or “God wouldn’t ask you to go into debt by going back to school”. Or [insert your situation here]. Seeds of doubt get planted, and you begin to wonder if you really heard God.

I think all of us have had at least one moment like that in our lives, and most likely more than one. It’s what we do in that moment that counts, and prayer is the best way to start. How many times in the Bible was God patient enough to encourage those who doubted what He asked or who felt inadequate to complete the task. Moses is the first person who comes to mind, and he helped to free the Israelites from slavery, gave them the Law from God and wrote the Pentateuch. There are numerous examples of God telling people to do things that we might call crazy, like Hosea being commanded to take a harlot as a wife to demonstrate Israel’s unfaithfulness to the Lord, or Noah building the ark, or Abraham leaving his country (especially at an older age) to wander in the wilderness where God led him. But one person stands out especially in this season of Christmas, and that person is Mary.

Many of us have grown up hearing the story of the nativity, and Mary being chosen by God to give birth to the Messiah. What is less taught is how all of this was counter-cultural in their day. According to scholars, Mary would have been a teenager, and Scripture tells us she was betrothed to Joseph. While in our culture, we would view this as an engagement but not an official marriage, in ancient Israel, they were viewed as husband and wife already. In the famously deemed Ten Commandments of the Law, the seventh commandment is “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14). But there was much more detail to the Law than the Ten Commandments, especially regarding unfaithfulness. Leviticus 20 is just one chapter devoted to the consequences of the sins of sexual immorality. Usually the result was death. John 8 demonstrates that the practice of stoning an adulterous woman to death still occurred in the first century AD. This practice from the Law is written in Deuteronomy 22:23-24, “If there is a girl who is a virgin engaged to a man, and another man finds her in the city and lies with her, then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city and you shall stone them to death; the girl because she did not cry out in the city, and the man, because he has violated his neighbor’s wife. Thus you shall purge the evil from among you.”

With this in mind, imagine Mary, a young virgin who is betrothed, winds up pregnant. A virgin getting pregnant would be seemingly impossible, so what would be the alternative thought? Adultery, most likely. Matthew’s account makes it clear that even though Mary and Joseph were betrothed, they had not consummated their marriage yet. Therefore, a pregnancy would’ve been viewed as unfaithfulness. Mary knew the Law, but when she was told by the angel Gabriel that she was chosen by God and that she would become pregnant through His power, she responds, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). How incredible is that! Knowing that this choice could result in death according to the Law, she trusts in the Lord. Even more, she praises the Lord for regarding a humble person as herself and exalts the Lord for His magnificence (Luke 1:46-55-The Magnificat).

Joseph’s response also demonstrates his exemplary character, and no doubt why God chose him (as well as being of the lineage of David). Matthew describes Joseph as a “righteous man” (Matt. 1:19) and says that “not wanting to disgrace her (Mary), planned to send her away secretly.” While some may find it harsh that Joseph would essentially divorce her, he was actually giving up his right to bring her before the court and have her stoned as the Law states should happen for an adulterous woman. Rather, he was willing to protect her and put the shame on himself. But thankfully, the Lord sent an angel to deter him from this decision and explained to him what happened. Just like Mary, Joseph didn’t question what was told him, but Matthew 1:24-25 says, “Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.”

If there was any time to doubt that you heard from God, the situation these two faced would be at the top of the list. Everyone knows that they haven’t officially consummated their marriage. Everyone knows that the Law says an adulteress would be stoned to death. But the Lord orchestrated everything perfectly. Since Mary was betrothed, the decision was up to Joseph, who God knew to be a righteous man who wouldn’t harm Mary. He knew Mary would fulfill the task because she was a faithful woman of God and considered God’s choice to be a blessing to her. The story of the birth of Christ is one of hope and amazing love, and it all began with faith that what God said was true and would be fulfilled.

God knew what the Law said—He wrote it! He knew what He asked of Mary and Joseph would not line up culturally. But God is above culture! God is above all things! God speaks to us if we’re willing to have ears to hear and understand. If you know that God has called you to do something, and you’ve gone before Him in prayer (this is important!), have the faith of Mary and Joseph who said, “May Your will be done, Lord.” Their faith resulted in the birth of our Savior who has redeemed us and saved us from our sin.

Even if you feel alone in your decision, the Lord will be there to guide you and provide for you along your journey. Let’s pray together:

Father, we thank you for the truth of Your Word, that it is a lamp to guide us when we falter or doubt. You’ve chosen many people before us to fulfill Your will, and we thank you that we can learn and be encouraged by their faithfulness. We have the blessing to see promises fulfilled that not many of them saw. Help us to hear your voice and drown out the world that seeks to discourage and destroy us. We desire to be a light instead, walking where you tell us to go even when we can’t see the end. Thank you for the gift of Jesus Christ, and the salvation and forgiveness You’ve given us so that we may lead others to Your kingdom. May we not fear the unknown but rejoice that You have chosen to regard the humble to exalt Your name. Give us Your strength and peace even when we feel alone, and remind us that You are always there. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

A Message to the Bride of Christ: Repent!

Wars abroad and cultural wars at home—evil thrives and preys on the innocent. The sickness permeates everything until we wonder if there’s anything good left. It’s in schools, homes, businesses, media of all kinds, nations, and yes, even in the church. “There is so much evil, how can You stand it, Lord?” I wrote on October 7th in my journal. But then another written thought proceeded, “You see it all that it makes Your love that much more profound and magnificent. Your grace is beyond words, and I’m humbled by Your goodness, such goodness that can’t exist in this sinful world.” While everything seems dark and grim, Solomon’s words ring true, “There is nothing new under the sun.”

Paul wrote in Romans 15:4, “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Going back to those “earlier times” we read about the birth of creation, and later, the birth of the nation of Israel—a people set apart by God and for God. But if you’ve read any of the Old Testament, it doesn’t take long for their love of the Lord God to turn to lust of other idols and gods. They run with the world and their faithfulness runs with it; more explicitly, they play the harlot. According to the Law, adultery was punishable by death, and so was the fate of Israel. Everything seemed dark and grim (sound familiar?), and often times, God is described as violent and wrathful in the Old Testament. While the wrath of God is real, it’s not without proper cause. His beloved had repeatedly committed adultery against Him (human terms, of course, to help us understand the significance of Israel’s sin). If you’ve ever been in that situation, consider how you felt and still feel—angry, bitter, vengeful, wrathful, broken. The Lord doesn’t mince words when He describes what will become of His beloved. But as I reread through those passages of Scripture, such as in Hosea, the love of God pierces my heart. In addition to a husband role, the Lord God also describes Himself as a father to Israel, guiding and leading them even when they chose to follow other gods:

“When Israel was a youth I loved him,

And out of Egypt I called My son.

The more they called them,

The more they went from them;

They kept sacrificing to the Baals

And burning incense to idols.

Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk,

I took them in My arms;

But they did not know that I healed them.

I led them with cords of a man, with bonds of love,

And I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws;

And I bent down and fed them.” Hosea 11:1-4 (NASB)

While Hosea 11 reminisces on the earlier state of Israel, most of the book focuses on Israel’s choices and how they lead to its destruction:

“Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me!

Destruction is theirs, for they have rebelled against Me!

I would redeem them, but they speak lies against Me.

And they do not cry to Me from their heart

When they wail on their beds;

For the sake of grain and new wine they assemble themselves,

They turn away from Me.” Hosea 7:13-14

What stands out to me in this passage, and as I read Hosea as a whole, is that even though Israel has carried out such wickedness and unfaithfulness, the Lord says “I would redeem them.” If only they would turn, all the wrath and anger would turn to forgiveness and compassion, like in the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15).

To be clear, this post about Israel is nothing in relation to what’s happening in the Middle East. Rather, it’s to demonstrate God’s love in the midst of evil everywhere. To reiterate Paul’s words, what was written before is to help us now, so that we would have hope. Israel was set apart for God under the Old Covenant. But now we are under the New Covenant, ushered in by Christ’s sacrifice. The church is now the bride of Christ- God’s elect- that is set apart in this world for the Lord. Yet how often we act like the Israel of the Old Testament! How many idols do we worship? What does our faithfulness look like? Are we faithful at all? We are supposed to be armored up with the truth of God’s word, but we have to actually study and know it and live it for ourselves in order to wield it against the enemy and our flesh.  What distinguishes us from the world? Rather, we have let the world into the church for fear of being “(insert word here)phobic” or being deemed irrelevant when cultural relevancy is all the rage.

The Lord’s love is beyond our understanding, and I can confidently say that He is waiting for us, the church, to come back to Him. The problem is that many of us don’t even recognize that we’ve strayed. We fail to recognize our idols and that we follow a Sunday routine without growth or joy. We fail to question what is taught, and when we feel that tugging in our mind that says “That doesn’t seem right,” we ignore it thinking that the preacher must know what he’s talking about. STOP and LISTEN to the Holy Spirit! In truth, the Lord is angry with the church because it spews lies and appeases people’s emotions. Emotional hype is not spiritual growth—it just masquerades as growth until we realize how empty we are when things get difficult. We are accountable for what we know, and we are without excuse, just like Israel was. They had the Law written for them. They had prophets and priests to guide them. They had tangible miracles to save and provide for them. Yet, they abandoned the Lord. We have much more than they did since all the truth is at our fingertips. We have Christ as the ultimate sacrifice so that we aren’t required to bring sacrifices except to “present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship” (Romans 12:1). Paul continues in Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

One of the greatest lies I’ve given in to is that I don’t have time. I don’t have time to sit down and write. I don’t have time to study God’s word. I have to get this and that done. I know I’m not alone. In this age, we fill up our lives with so much that sometimes it seems we barely have time to breathe. But the excuse of “not even time” is a lie—we choose to create chaos in our lives. I think we even welcome the chaos because it prevents us from truly examining ourselves individually and as a body of believers. Our flesh savors this, and it is a daily fight to push through, take the blinders off, and let ourselves be still with the Lord with all our sin and pain exposed. But only when we do this can we be healed. For the sake of our nation, and really the world, we must go through the pain of recognizing our failure as the body of Christ. But thanks be to God, it doesn’t stop there! Our repentance leads to God’s magnificent forgiveness and love that is beyond human comprehension. When we are right with Him, we can stand as soldiers declaring truth and thwarting the enemy:

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” Ephesians 6:11-13

Let us learn from the past and become a faithful, and spiritually strong bride of Christ. Evil is all around us, but let us stand firm as a light to the nations and demonstrate God’s truth and love.

©Lauren Demuth

Forever Yours

Darkness descends upon my soul

as fear and self-hatred entrap me.

The earth opens revealing a pit

with an insatiable appetite.

Defeated, I fall to where all seems lost,

to where light fades into hopelessness.

 

Tears, anguish, death.

Each attempt to escape sends me

deeper, deeper into sorrow,

transforming me into someone unrecognizable.

“Oh God, I can’t believe You love me!

How wretched I am–a failure!”

 

How can there be hope for me,

so undeserving,

so unlovable,

so unrighteous?

The darkness twists lies into truth–

easier to cling to than forgiveness.

 

“Fight, fight! Don’t let the enemy win!”

A faint cry breaks through the darkness, almost incomprehensible.

“I love you! You are Mine! Even broken, you are beautiful!”

Music to my soul, I hear my Father’s voice

leading me out,

shining His light so I could come home.

 

How can it be

that He loves me so?

How can it be

that I’m worth it?

How can it be

that with all my mistakes, He still blesses me?

 

Father, Your grace astounds me;

Your love saves me;

Your Spirit moves me;

Your joy envelops me;

Your faithfulness lifts me;

Your sacrifice will keep me

forever Yours!

~~~

It’s been almost a year since I wrote my last poem “Faith Over Fear.” Thinking about writing this post was difficult because I struggled to keep that mindset of having faith over fear; rather, for awhile, I let fear grow inside me to such a point that I became lost to who I was. As a Christian of 23 years, this did not seem right. I was ashamed of my behavior, my thoughts, my hopelessness. There really isn’t a catalyst moment for why this began, but I can say it seemed to start last summer. I had just finished a school year that I didn’t expect to end well, but it did. I was proud of being able to accomplish a teaching job that I felt was impossible and out of my league. When I wrote “Faith Over Fear,” I had finally given things over to God, and even though my job was not a piece of cake, I saw people and situations with God’s perspective more than my own. I even fought to keep my job and worked harder towards obtaining a teaching license. So why did that change? I don’t fully know. All I know is that fear and anxiety gripped me to the point of dangerous thinking. Everyone could see it, which made it worse. I have never been one to hide my emotions, but in this case, it wasn’t just my job at stake, it was my testimony. How can I say I follow God when I let fear and doubt cripple me so badly. Where was my faith? It was depleted. There’s no sugar-coating it. I felt I could not succeed at what I was doing; therefore, I was a failure. It didn’t matter God opened doors; I was unwilling to let things go and trust Him. I said “I can’t!” and I loathed my own poster I put in my classroom, which read “Don’t say you can’t until you discover that you can!” My conviction was staring at me in the face until I couldn’t take it–I quit. I quit, thinking the job was the problem. It wasn’t. The fear and anxiety continued, but now I was truly a failure. I gave up! I have never given up before! And I had to face my decision. I had to face myself and the reality of it all. “You’re stupid. You’re worthless. Look what you did to your family. How could you?” Thoughts, lies, over and over multiple times a day, every day. Self-hatred reigned in me. I can forgive anyone else but myself. It was torture to the point where my thoughts went dark–places I never, ever thought my mind would go.

Now some may be thinking, “Come on, Lauren, this was just a job. It’s OK to fail!” But not to me. Failure has never been an option although I know how ridiculous that sounds. I know it’s true we learn from failure, but it was the idea that I gave up. I know God would have given me the strength and knowledge to keep going. I just didn’t want to. I didn’t believe I could do it. Those awful thoughts were relentless. I didn’t trust myself alone. But those who love me didn’t give up on me even when I gave up on myself. They loved me when I felt unlovable. They encouraged me, prayed for me, held me. Little by little the light came back in. I started applying for jobs–and oh how my pride wanted to take over. What started as “I would never apply for that” became “Oh, please call me back!” I finally got a job, and although it’s nothing I would have ever planned for myself, it’s good for me for now as I continue to grow in the Lord. My hope is to be able to teach Bible one day when the timing is right–truly, when I’m in the right place with God to teach again. Just those little steps forward helped me to gain confidence. I enjoy interacting with people and actually being a light to those around me. As many know, music can be powerful, and I love to sing. While everything was going on, I lost my joy of singing as I felt like a hypocrite to sing praises to God when I wasn’t trusting Him. But I started listening to the 2019 Wow CD and also to Lauren Daigle’s CD “How Can It Be” (I still listen to this every morning on my way to work). The songs awoke something inside me and as I started to sing, I started to believe the words, and essentially the truth, once again. There is still so much for me to work on, but I am beyond grateful and blessed to still be here, and God’s grace has been more than sufficient. His love is so immense that even when we don’t love ourselves it’s still there, waiting for us to accept it.

Although this post isn’t easy to write, it’s during these times where we can decide to stay in the pit or be transformed and grow. I mistakenly thought that the pit was my new home, but thanks be to God that He called me out and placed my feet on the solid Rock once again! I encourage you to reach out to your brothers and sisters in Christ. Everyone is going through something; it doesn’t matter if it seems big or small. Lift each other up and help to bring Christ’s love and light back into their lives. You never know the impact one word or gesture could make.

~~~

Side note: I didn’t realize until after I wrote the poem how much it resembled Psalm 30, which is also a great read. Check it out!

©Lauren Heiligenthal

Faith Over Fear

I close my eyes

and visualize

paths leading to my demise,

where fear leads me to wander.

 

I stand frozen

knowing I’ve been chosen

for something greater than

drinking the enemy’s poison.

 

The choice is mine:

To follow the Divine

on the straight and narrow defined,

the path leading to glory,

 

Or to walk down easy street

where, with every step, the truth retreats

to the back of my mind and defeat

becomes my story.

 

Countless times the choice seems clear,

yet too often I cater to fear,

who takes the joy from what I hold dear,

leaving me empty and broken.

 

If I had faith the size of a mustard seed,

I could move mountains from land to sea

and fulfill God’s call inside of me

to become who I’m meant to be.

 

The Lord knows every thought

and sees my river of tears.

The Creator calls out to me,

reminding me that He has conquered fear:

 

“Break forth, child of God, daughter of the King.

Shine bright, let your righteousness bring

the truth to the nations,

a fragrant offering.

 

Sing with all your soul

and let yourself become whole

as you take My hand and stroll

down the road to everlasting.

 

No fear can conquer Me,

and my Spirit is inside of thee

with the power to crush the enemy

underneath your feet.

 

Take hold of your shield

with faith you can wield

against weapons of defeat

and let yourself be healed.

 

Stand firm, soldier of the living God!

My Word is a double-edged sword;

My mouth is a flaming fire,

consuming all the enemy’s horde.

 

Fear Me above all else.

Have faith that you are victorious in Me,

and there will be no reason to doubt

That you will become who I created you to be.”

 

 

Written February 24, 2019

 

©Lauren Heiligenthal

To See or Not to See?

I love reading the Book of John. When I was in school, it was kind of a dismissed gospel because it’s not like the other three; however, it is arguably my favorite. From the very beginning it focuses on Jesus’ divinity, His ministry, and His sacrifice. In John 1:17, John writes, “For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.” How wonderful is that! One of the passages I love the most in John is in chapter 9 where Jesus heals the man who was born blind.

There was a belief that sicknesses, deformities, etc. were a sign of sin. Even Jesus’ disciples ask Him who sinned, the blind man or his parents? Jesus responds by saying that neither had sinned, but the man was born blind so that the works of God might be displayed in him (v. 3). This sets the stage for the rest of passage. The miracle itself is awe-inspiring and demonstrates God’s power, but it’s the interaction between the man and the Pharisees that illustrates the difference between knowledge and wisdom.

The Pharisees are the teachers of the Law. They are the experts who are to lead by spiritual example. Yet with this healed man before them, they cannot reach a consensus on who Jesus is. Many say that Jesus couldn’t be from God because He healed on the Sabbath (v. 16)—something they always like to bring up. When asked about Jesus’ identity, the healed man believes Him to be a prophet (v. 17). Well, the Jews don’t like that so they turn their attention to his parents to find out if their son really was blind. Out of fear of being turned away from the synagogue, his parents throw the attention back to their son—surely he can speak for himself. Repeatedly they ask the healed man how Jesus did it, but he is finished with their interrogation. Instead, he asks, “You do not want to become His disciples too, do you?” (v. 27). Of course not! Instead, they claim to be Moses’ disciples, not followers of this man whose origin remains a mystery to them. Even though they have all the knowledge of the Scriptures, they remain ignorant. On the other hand, the healed man—uneducated and a beggar—understands more of the Scriptures than these experts:

“‘Well here is an amazing thing, that you do not know where He is from, and yet He opened my eyes. We know that God does not hear sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. Since the beginning of time it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.’” (vv. 30-33 NASB)

What a testimony of the greatness of God and the wisdom He gives to those who are willing to receive it! After the man is cast out from the synagogue, Jesus finds him and reveals Himself as the Son of Man. He then uses the healing of the blind man to teach an even greater spiritual message: “’For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind’” (v. 39). Of course the Pharisees say, “We are not blind too, are we?” And Jesus replies, “‘If you were blind, you would have no sin, but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains’” (vv. 40-41).

The Pharisees had the truth at their fingertips. Of all the people, they should have known from the beginning who Jesus was. But they got caught up in the letter of the Law instead of its principles. They followed their own understanding and interpretations, and they enjoyed their lofty positions and relationships with the powerful. They neglected the wonderful blessing of truth they were given. They were spiritually blind and remained in sin.

In contrast, the man was a beggar who was born blind with no hope of change until he listened to a man who told him to simply “Go to Siloam and wash” (v. 7). One simple step of obedience changed his life and his testimony. Having heard the truth of the Scriptures, he knew that Jesus could only be from God. He then gained physical and spiritual sight and his sins were forgiven. Simple obedience, simple wisdom, simple truth.

Who are we? Are we like the Pharisees or the healed man? We have heard the truth of the gospel numerous times, yet do we have understanding? We can take theology courses, read a handful of Bible translations and paraphrases, go to church every week, but do we see? Are we aware of our spiritual condition? Do we follow the Lord in simple obedience?

Do not complicate the gospel message. Examine your heart. Talk to the Lord about it. Listen to what He says (for the Lord hears the prayers of God-fearing people who do His will- John 9:31). And do what He says.

May our eyes be opened to His truth.

 

©Lauren Heiligenthal

Testing the Spirits

I wanted to share a post written by Stacey Louiso, a wonderful Christian woman and author. This post is a challenge to the modern body of Christ, and I think it is quite thought-provoking and biblically sound. Too often the church follows popular leaders and teachings instead of digging deep and testing what’s been preached. Here’s a quote from Stacey’s post:

“Often, as I follow and interact with pastors, ministry leaders and the like on social media, I find myself wishing I weren’t so connected. Some of what fellow Believers proclaim makes me wonder which version/translation of the Bible they read! Why? Their theology, hermeneutics and exegesis are often very loose versions of what the very traditional translations of the Bible contain. Loose (modern) translations of the Holy Bible are part of the very problem described herein, not part of any solution. They often mislead people and lighten the truths of the word of God. Softening the message of the Gospel was never part of God’s plan for Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, or his resurrection.”

Please check out the rest on her blog: http://www.writingdownlife.com/2017/02/05/a-body-called-to-christ-not-to-a-church-part-1/# . I also encourage you to read other posts she’s written.

 

Do Not Be Double-Minded

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” ~ James 1:5-8 (NASB)

The Word of God is an encourager, a teacher, a guide. It is also an admonisher for the body of believers. Sometimes we want to look past words like “judgment,” or in this case, “double-minded” because we think it’s talking about other people in the world, mainly unbelievers. But the Scriptures weren’t written for the world. They were written for the followers of God (e.g., 1 Cor. 10). Each letter written in the NT was for the church. Within those letters are topics that the church no longer wants to tackle because of our culture’s stance on political correctness. We tread lightly when it comes to homosexuality. We dismiss discussions of theistic evolution. We don’t even dare consider that Scripture talks about the father/husband being the head of the household. We reinterpret Scripture to accommodate the world’s understanding of morality. And we have convinced ourselves that these interpretations are true, or even worse, that we cannot know what truth is.

According to the Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains, to be double-minded (δίψυχος) is to be “uncertain of the truth of something.”[1] In the passage above, James is encouraging the scattered Jewish Christians to not doubt when asking the Lord for wisdom. He equates lack of faith with someone who is double-minded. The Dictionary of Bible Themes describes double-mindedness as being “Indicative of insincerity and hypocrisy. God requires wholeheartedness and sincerity from all people, both in their dealings with others and in their worship of him.”[2] James uses this term again in James 4:

“You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: ‘He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us’? But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, ‘God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (vv. 4-8, emphasis added)

Even in the book of Revelation, John is asked to write messages to the seven churches, one of them being Laodicea. In Christ’s words to the church, He describes the believers as being lukewarm:

“‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.  So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,’ and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”  (Revelation 3:15-22, emphasis added)

James and John (or rather Christ in the context) make it clear that there are two choices: to have faith in God and submit to Him or to doubt God and be friends with the world. It seems straightforward with no room for gray areas.

~~~

So why did Peter, Paul, John, and James write some (what we might think are) harsh words to the church? Were they being judgmental? In a way, yes. Why? Because the church is called to righteousness. Because the church needs discipline. Because we wear the name of Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul calls out the Corinthian body of believers because they let sin continue among them. Someone had taken his father’s wife, which was something that Paul had not even heard of among the Gentiles, the non-believers. Paul says to the church, “You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst” (v. 2). But how can Paul be so harsh? Aren’t we supposed to love and accept people even when they sin? Paul makes his point clear in vv. 9-13:

“I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.” (emphasis added)

We are all guilty of sinning, but should we willfully continue to sin? The Corinthians knew what was going on, but they said or did nothing. They let it continue, which means that the one who was guilty of such an act was unrepentant. Hebrews 10:26-31 also addresses this issue to Jewish Christians:

“For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’ It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Some people argue that this passage is talking about people who haven’t really accepted Christ. However, to reiterate what I said in the beginning, the NT letters were written to believers. Hebrews is written to a Jewish Christian audience. In verses 19-25 the author (I believe to be Paul) addresses his audience with the inclusive pronoun “we” while talking about holding “fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful (v. 23).” He continues to use “we” in the beginning of v. 26 which indicates that he is talking about Christians. The author further clarifies the statement about sinning willfully by adding, “…after receiving the knowledge of the truth…” So we know that the author is talking about Christians who have knowledge of the truth, and yet willfully continue to sin. What is the outcome for such a person? A brief scolding? Give him/her a hug because all we should do is demonstrate acceptance? The text is clear that such a person has regarded the blood of Christ’s sacrifice to be unclean. He/she has spit in Christ’s face along with the gifts of salvation and grace. This person faces a great judgment (vv. 30-31).

We as Christians are held responsible for what we know. The Word of God has been preserved for us. Do we have faith that what it says is true? If we do not understand something, are we willing to ask God in faith for wisdom and knowledge of His truth? And when we ask, are we willing to see the truth even if it may go against our culture or current beliefs? Paul (when he was Saul) had to face the truth that his zeal for God was not acted out in the right way. He believed that persecuting Christians was right because he loved God. But when Jesus appeared to him, Paul found out he was really persecuting God. Peter doubted while walking on water. He denied Jesus three times. He even excluded Gentile Christians for a time having been influenced by other Jews, and he had to be rebuked by Paul. These men confessed their sins and turned away from them. They wrote to the church having experienced hardships themselves. They wrote as fathers/leaders who sought to help their spiritual children bear fruit for God’s kingdom. The path to righteousness takes faith and hard work as we war against our flesh daily. We will stumble at times. We will be tempted and even persecuted. But we have each other for encouragement and admonition. We cannot allow the church to become synonymous with the world no matter how much we might be hated. Instead of being unsure about truth like double-minded people, let us ask God in faith for wisdom and understanding. If we seek Him with all of our hearts, He will be faithful to lead us.

 

©Lauren Heiligenthal

 

Footnotes:

[1] Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 370.

[2] Martin H. Manser, Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies (London: Martin Manser, 2009).

Trust and Obey

“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

(From the hymn “Trust and Obey,” written by John H. Sammis, 1887)

 

These are simple words, but the truth behind them is powerful. As Christians we have made the decision to follow God wherever He may lead. This requires our utmost obedience and trust in the Father who knows the perfect path for us—a path that leads to true joy which the world cannot begin to offer. But sometimes following this path means facing our fears.

~~~

Do you know where God is leading you, but you’re having a hard time trusting Him? Is the path one that scares you? Do you doubt your ability to fulfill the task? If this is you, you are certainly not alone.  Not only are there other brothers and sisters out there who feel the same way (including me), but there are some significant Bible figures who went through the same experience. Let’s take a look at one of them.

In Exodus 3, Moses has quite an unusual encounter with God as he approaches an inconsumable burning bush. The Lord entrusts Moses with the task of freeing his people from their oppression in Egypt, and He reassures him that He will work wonders to make it happen. Even though Moses knows the plan, he has some fears.

“Then Moses said, “What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’” (Ex. 4:1 NASB)

“What if?” I am guilty of starting many excuses with these two little words. This phrase assumes the worst and reveals doubt–doubt in God and doubt in myself. In Moses’ situation, he is worried about what people think. Despite what God has shared with him and the right answers to give, Moses doubts. In truth, I can’t blame him. To walk into another nation and speak to the highest authority there who has continued to enslave his people is not an easy task. But God in His mercy provides a solution. He changes Moses’ ordinary staff into one that demonstrates the miraculous power of God and gives Moses the gift of performing miracles so that His people might see and believe (Ex. 4:2-9, 17).

Yet even with such amazing gifts of power, Moses has another problem. He doesn’t speak very well.

“’Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”’ (Ex. 4:10).

Even after the Lord reassures Moses that He will be his mouthpiece, Moses still wants the Lord to send the message by someone else. At this point the Lord becomes angry (v. 14). And why shouldn’t He be? He’s revealed Himself to Moses, chosen him for this task, told him what’s going to happen, assured him that his people will be set free, and gifted him with miracles. Yet how many times has the Lord worked in our lives and then when a new task comes along, we doubt? We are not so different from Moses. Moses wants to be a perfect messenger, one in whom his people can place their trust, but he feels inadequate. And in the world’s eyes, he is. However, throughout Scripture God repeatedly works through human weakness. In 2 Corinthians 12 God conveys to Paul that power is perfected through weakness. His grace is sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9). The only One we should boast in is the Lord, not ourselves. That’s what the Lord is telling Moses in Exodus 4: “Trust Me.” So Moses decides to take his family to Egypt and meet Aaron who will be his mouthpiece (still with God’s help). Together, they meet with the elders of Israel and share God’s words and miracles. The Lord has heard His people’s cries and is ready to act!

Even with a rocky start, Moses becomes the leader God created him to be. As we know, the rest of the story involves trials and many plagues demonstrating God’s power and glory. Yet Moses’ trust in God brings about a new age for Israel. They are finally free after four hundred years! This is just the beginning of what Moses will do on Israel’s behalf. The Law God gives to Israel through Moses becomes the foundation by which Israel is judged and remains as such until Christ’s death and resurrection.

~~~

I can’t imagine what would’ve happened had Moses turned away from God after “What if?” Perhaps God would’ve chosen someone else. It’s something we can hardly speculate. However, we can look at our own lives. Has God ever asked us to do something, and we didn’t do it? Conversely, have we followed God’s instructions and now can’t imagine what life would be like if we had disobeyed? In my own walk with God I can answer affirmatively to both of these questions.

Sometimes the opportunities that were once presented before us are no longer there. We can’t dwell on them, but what we can do is place our trust in God and ask Him for another chance. Our hearts must be willing and sincere to follow no matter what the task may be. Remember, the Lord works through our weaknesses so that He may be glorified. The Lord will not make Himself look like a fool.

There have been moments in my life when I had no doubt what God was asking me to do. I knew the task would be hard, but I made the choice to trust Him and take those steps. I couldn’t see the outcome, and at times I feared the worst, but God remained faithful. These choices have truly changed my life despite trials and hardships. I wouldn’t change them for anything. Yet even now I face another task, one that for some would be easy: teaching. Like Moses, I feel inadequate, but as we just studied in Scripture, that’s the best time for me to give it all up to God.

I recently heard on the radio that the thing that scares us the most is often what frees us. I think there is truth to that. The enemy would like nothing more for us to be enslaved to fear. He wants to use our weaknesses to destroy us and our faith in God. God wants to use our weaknesses to bring glory to His name. What will we choose today? Who do we want to become? What do we have to lose if we have God and each other (like Moses had Aaron) to lift us up?

Let’s trust and obey.

 

“But we never can prove the delights of His love

Until all on the altar we lay;

For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,

Are for them who will trust and obey.”

(From the hymn “Trust and Obey”, verse 4, written by John H. Sammis)

 

For more encouraging words about trusting and obeying God, please check out a wonderful post written by Karina from the blog Karina’s Thought: https://karinasussanto.wordpress.com/?s=trust+and+obey.

 

 

©Lauren Heiligenthal