How to Counterattack the Devil - Pt. 2 ('Away From Me Satan' edition)

When Jesus became aware his mission would soon come to fruition, he spoke to the disciples about the Advocate. The Advocate, also known as the Holy Spirit, would act on behalf of Jesus and reside in our hearts, directing us into all Truth, and speaking holiness into our thoughts and actions. Though Jesus would not be walking the Earth much longer in this scene with the disciples, he reassured them that he would be with them until the end of time, providing them with peace along the way. Among stepping in as a representative of Jesus, the Holy Spirit would “teach you everything” (John 14:26) and also remind the disciples what Jesus taught them. During this time, right before Jesus would be arrested and sentenced to death, Jesus made it clear that the disciples would do the things Jesus did during his time on Earth."Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father" (John 14:12).

That sounds surreal, doesn’t it? The same Jesus who multiplied food, raised people from the dead, and healed too many people to count in the Bible is the same Jesus who resides in me?  This is the same Jesus who cast out demons and sent them into a herd of pigs, where they then drowned (Luke 8:30-33), so the fact that Jesus tells us that we have the power of himself within us is unbelievable.

Ok, we could probably all admit Jesus directing demons into pigs is a bit strange; it’s not the type of bedtime story you’d read to your 5-year-old kid. Additionally, most of what Jesus did was considered supernatural and beyond comprehension. Still, when Jesus said we would do what he did, it’s clear he meant it, which means we should live like the power of God that was given to Jesus is in us as well. Most of the time, we think of Jesus’ miracles like when he cast out demons as examples of doing things Jesus’ way. It even frightens some of us into thinking we might have to live dangerously the way Jesus did. But we need to remember Jesus’ miracles and supernatural lifestyle do not always need to be the baseline for how we should live like him; we should also consider how he loved others, looked out for the orphans and least lovable. And, in this case…

Doing Jesus things does not always mean doing miracles, raising dead to life, and possibly displacing demons into a sounder of swine. Even when we encounter attacks from the Devil, we should respond the way Jesus did. If we to do the [things] Jesus did, as John says, we can also counterattack the way Jesus responded to Satan. The Holy Spirit in us, acting as a divine guide in our hearts, will lead us into all Truth, even in the midst of Satan's attacks.

John 14:26-27, part of which was mentioned earlier: “But when the Father sends the Advocate as [Jesus’] representative – that is, the Holy Spirit – he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything [Jesus has] told you.”

John 14:13-14: “You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

So, we not only are called to do the works of Jesus, but we are left with the Holy Spirit to lead us and continue to instruct us into all Truth, and we can ask for anything in Jesus' name, and it will be done. This means we can respond to Satan with authority the way Jesus did, walk in step with the Holy Spirit as if we are walking in step with Jesus, and receive divine assistance when we ask for help when we're under attack? According to John 14, yes we can. Talk about a deal! If this is true, we should never forget these verses when going into battle. Victory is imminent!

However, when it comes to spiritual opposition, we seem to forget the words Jesus left the disciples (and us) with. We often cower in fear like we never had armor to begin with, so it is of utmost importance that we heed the following words of wisdom and take them with us wherever we go. They promise power and authority from Heaven to our hearts. If Jesus could confront the twisted words of the Devil with Truth, so can we

When we think about what we can do with Jesus in our hearts, we cannot limit the power he contains. A good place to start when preparing our heart and mind to respond to the Enemy’s attacks is to study how Jesus behaved towards Satan when he tempted him.

I think it’s time we take the power we have to fend off Satan’s attacks seriously if we have not already done so. When Jesus says “…whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these…”, he was comforting his disciples by reminding them that they have power and authority from Heaven. If we are to prepare for Satan’s attacks and schemes, shouldn’t we first study Jesus’ every demeanor, behavior, attitude, and response to these types of situations if we are to overcome the Enemy?

One place to look is in Matthew 4:1-11, where Jesus is confronted by Satan. Here, Satan tempts Jesus three times by commanding him to turn stones into bread, throwing himself off a temple, and bowing down to worship him. Despite these three temptations, Jesus eventually convinces the Devil to leave without a single second of success to boast about. How does Jesus walk away unscathed.

1. Jesus follows Scriptures commands

Satan comes on the scene while Jesus is led by the Spirit to the wilderness. He tells Jesus to turn the stones into loaves of bread. We all know Jesus could do it, but it was not in alignment with God’s plan. God’s reply? A reference to the Old Testament: “‘People do not live by bread alone,’ Jesus replies, unfazed by the Devil’s tactics, “‘But by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4). There is evidence Jesus uses the Old Testament to help him because Deuteronomy 8:3 says the same thing: “Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with Manna…He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”

While we could go on and on about God’s challenge to live in humility and why God would allow the Israelites to go hungry just to teach a lesson, the point is that Jesus utilizes the words of his Father and how powerful they can be when applied to difficult situations. And Jesus did not hesitate! He brought the power of Scripture to life by using it within the context of temptation.

What did Satan do? He moved on from the first temptation, unsuccessful, and took Jesus to the holy city in Jerusalem. The Devil even twists Scripture to fit his agenda. Once again, Jesus, fully human, combats the fiery arrows with Scripture. But this particular reference contains more:

2. Jesus pledges his allegiance to his Master

“…You must not test the Lord your God” (Matthew 4:7), Jesus replies to Satan’s twisting of Scripture. In this part of the passage, Jesus does an exceptional job modeling his dedication to the Father. His response to jumping off the temple and saving himself is a testimony to what can be overcome when we pledge our allegiance to God. Consider this: the way we remove ourselves from temptation can be just as honoring to God as doing something good for him. God wants us to be of sound mind, which includes being transformed into his likeness. Turning our allegiance to God rather than listening to the whispers of Satan is paying our respects to the position God has in our lives. I am a child of God, so I don’t walk the wide road; I walk the straight and narrow.

As if the first two rejections were not enough, Satan tries to successfully remove Jesus from connection to the Father by commanding Jesus to “kneel down and worship me” (Matthew 4:9) and he will give Jesus all of the kingdoms and their glory. Funny, because Jesus’ mission was not to take all of the kingdoms and claim glory to be his; he came to bring glory to God and expose God for who he really is: the Savior of the world. While Satan’s ploy was to get Jesus to stop focusing on the eternal goodness of God, Jesus used this strategy to conquer Satan’s attacks.

3. Jesus doesn’t beat around the bush

For the third time, Jesus combats Satan by referencing Scripture: “You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him” (Matthew 4:10). However, while these words are powerful and important to focus on (especially when the enemy attacks), let’s look at what Jesus says before this in verse 10: “Get out of here, Satan.” Jesus doesn’t have time to negotiate with Satan, and neither should we. The longer we let him linger, the more power we give him. Satan wants to destroy you, even if he disguises it by wrapping destruction in a neat bow (twisting Scripture, ‘promising’ kingdoms and glory, etc.). Jesus, in essence, says, “You don’t belong here, so you may leave.” It is not a recommendation, but a command.

Satan might have power, but his power amounts to dust compared to what God has. Because the power of God resides in us (as a gift), we too can command Satan to leave our presence. How do we know this? Check out what happens next in verse 11: “Then the Devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.”

Notice the two things that happened in verse 11. 1) The Devil obeyed Jesus; his power to continue fighting back was removed from him. He had no choice because Jesus left him no choice. “Not on my watch!” 2) Angels came to Jesus’ aid. How often do we cave in right before God sends reinforcements? Whether it is through church community, a direct word from the Lord, a family member coming to assist you, or some other miracle in your life, how often do we throw in the towel before the great thing happens?

We don’t have to let Satan get away with trickery when we have the gift of spiritual leaders and mentors in our lives. When we choose to put ourselves out there and keep in touch with a body of believers, we are putting on that metaphorical armor that can defend us from Satan’s evil plot to destroy.

From this passage, two lessons can be learned: 1) We have more power to resist Satan than we know because the supernatural resides in us and 2) Sometimes we have to go through a few attacks to demonstrate faith in the God despite the difficulties. Just because Jesus was tempted and attacked by Satan, it doesn’t mean he lost; Jesus only stood his ground on the solid rock even more and Satan walked away with nothing. 

Sure, we can argue that works means his ministry, like when he cast out demons and raised people from the dead or cured them from disease. So, when John 14:12 says "...whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing," we could strictly talk about miracles, loving others, and promoting the Gospel in supernatural ways. But, everything Jesus did on Earth was part of his ministry, even when Satan tempted him. In addition to Jesus erasing our debt to sin, his life was a model for how we as believers should live to glorify God in every situation before us. Living to glorify God includes saying no to Satan with power and authority. When Jesus was tested by the Devil in Matthew 4, Jesus established Father God as the great Authority and glorified God each of the three times Satan tempted him in this passage. Therefore, the testing of Jesus in the wilderness was part of his ministry. In the end, the Devil could not succeed against the power of Jesus! Amen!

So, where is your allegiance when things don’t go your way? How do you demonstrate unequivocal faith to God when the tables turn against you like Jesus did in the wilderness? How is your attitude when you’re dealt a bad hand in your wilderness? Does Satan merely push you around into doing what he wishes, enslaving you and shackling you into the ball and chain of his lies and empty promises? Or do you “Submit, yourselves, then, to God. Resist the Devil…” (James 4:7) and he flees from you the way he did with Jesus in Matthew 4? Will you say no, "away from me Satan," just as Jesus did? Will you allow the power of the Holy Spirit, the sovereignty of the Almighty, and the authority of God's Holy Word command the Enemy to back down and have no place in your life?

When you look at Matthew 4, be inspired by the little power Satan does have when confronted with the magnificence of God’s Truth. It’s not that Satan is not powerful, but that God’s sovereignty and supremacy is infinitely more powerful. So, the next time you feel the wrath of Satan nipping at your heels, remind yourself how you can overcome the Enemy with these strategies:

1. reference the power of the Word

2. declare your allegiance to the One True God

3. be strong, bold, and forceful towards Satan (if he speaks lies over you, spit the Truth back to him!)

4. surround yourself with a courageous, fierce, wise body of believers who are committed to putting God first.

Do these things, and the ground you build your house upon no Enemy can destroy. You can silence the Devil and sever ties with his tricks through partnership with God's will for you today, in this very moment! It's time to start are divine revolution in your life NOW!

How to Counterattack the Devil - Pt. I

Though times have changed since the resurrection of Jesus, one thing remains true: Satan will not stop doing what he can to disrupt the connection we have with God the Father and disable us from living out our influence to further his Kingdom for his glory. I have never heard Satan tell me to turn the rocks into bread or throw myself off a cliff so I can demonstrate my own power to save myself. However, Satan does come after us in other ways: lust, worry, greed, laziness, mistreatment of those around us, pride, selfishness, jealousy. If I can just get Josh stuck, even if it’s temporary, I could convince him to permanently walk away from this so called ‘freedom in Christ’ he is embracing. That’s Satan’s goal. Since he cannot eliminate God, he will do what he can to eliminate God from our hearts and minds. A day without God is a victory for Satan, and he’s been at work since before Jesus’ birth.

In Job 1, when Satan approaches God and challenges him, God tells him he can put Job to the test, “…Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically” (v. 12). What does Satan do? He tries to prove to God that Job will lose faith in God once all of his possessions are gone. It’s almost as if Satan says to God, “I don’t need to make him walk away from you, he will do that himself; watch.” All in one chapter (Job 1), Job’s possessions are taken from him: first, the animals are stolen. Second, sheep and shepherds are burned up. Third, servants get killed, and camels get stolen. And, to end chapter one, the fifth thing Satan strips from Job are his kids after the house collapsed on them. Yet, through all of this Job did not sin against God. When Satan approached God again, God once again told Satan about Job, this blameless man of integrity and great fear of the Lord. What did the Devil do? He struck Job with boils from head to toe; it was so bad, even Job’s wife told him to ‘curse God and die’ (Job 2:9). 

From that moment forward, Job’s friends come to him with their theories about why Job’s life has become an utter disaster. We know why, but his friends are oblivious. One friend says, “Do not despise the discipline of the Almighty when you sin” (Job 5:17), and the same friend also says, “If God does not trust his own angels and has charged his messengers with foolishness, how much less will he trust people made of clay?” (Job 4:18) Keep in mind, this foolish friend is still referring to the same man who God called “the finest man in all of the Earth…”,  “Blameless”, “a man of complete integrity…”, “fears God and stays away from evil” (Job 1:8). But friend number one does not stop there! He even calls Job out on being a sinner who God trusts less than the angels! Job has two more friends ready to provide their own wisdom on the matter. Friend number two, Bildad,  calls Job “an ungodly, wicked man, [who] was unjust and uncharitable” (according to Matthew Henry’s commentary/translation), and that Job was justly punished for his ungodliness. Friend three is not any better in his reproving of Job. Among other reproofs, Zophar theorizes that Job is a hypocrite unless his possessions are restored. To Zophar, a wealth of possessions meant you had righteous favor with God, so if they are removed from Job, not to be returned, he must be a hypocrite. In addition, Zophar encourages Job to repent, even though we know the reasoning behind Satan’s attacks.

All three perspectives shared by his three friends are abhorrently false, and it should be noted that if they condemned Job with false allegations and incorrect assertions, did they really comfort him in his time of need? Worse, did they encourage Job to trust in God? At this point, Satan must love the misinformation Job’s friends are feeding him because confusion can often separate us from the Truth of who God is, which is Satan’s ultimate goal. The three friends, with or without knowing it, have added to the confusion that Job might already be experiencing, and when all is said and done, it is Job’s conversation with the Lord that brings clarity and understanding to the situation. Near the end of the book of Job, it is God’s turn to respond, and he starts with this:

“Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.” (Job 38:2)

Can we call a full timeout here? If you ever need a reminder of God’s sovereignty, go to this verse. We all know God is omniscient, so he is not required to ask Job anything. God does not answer to Job, because God does not lack wisdom. However, do you recall Job 1 and 2? God publicly boasts about Job in front of the angels and Satan. Job 1:6 says, “One day, the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them.” Following Job 1:6, God tells Satan what an incredible man Job is. So, God has his reputation on the line too, yet he allows Job to live up to the reputation God gave him. When Job complains and compares his present afflictions to his former glory in Job 30, it is the opposite of the behavior God brags to Satan about. I believe God shows Job tough love in chapters 38-42 because Job is living below the standard that God empowered him to live! It’s almost as if God is saying, “You are blameless and full of integrity; the finest man in the land! Don’t lower your standards when I have empowered you to live with boldness!” Before Job goes any further, God does not cut corners and gives him perspective on who he is:

“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?” (Job 38:4)

“Do you know where the gates of death are located? Have you seen the gates of utter gloom? Do you realize the extent of the earth? Tell me about it if you know!” (Job 38:17-18)

“Who gives the wild donkey its freedom? Who untied its ropes?” (Job 39:5)

“Have you given the horse its strength or clothed its back with a flowing mane?” (Job 39:19)

“Is it your wisdom that makes the hawk soar and spread its wings toward the south?” (Job 39:26)

God continues asking Job hypothetical questions like these; questions that point back to His power.

Then, the Almighty God finishes the first challenge with this:

“Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?” (Job 40:2)

There is more in God’s second challenge to Job, where God talks to him about the strength of the two colossal creatures, the Behemoth and Leviathan, and goes on an epic monologue about only giving Job praise if his “own strength could save you” (Job 40:14). Spoiler alert: Job’s own strength cannot save him, and God knows this.

Shortly after God puts Job in his place, Job humbly approaches God to verbally declare his sovereignty. Once God sees Job’s repentant spirit and humble heart, he not only reprimanded Job’s friends and commanded them to pay Job with bulls and rams (Job 42:7-8), but He also “restored his fortunes” and “gave him twice as much as before” (Job 42:10).

As a result, we can look at Job’s story as a lesson in never losing perspective of God’s sovereignty and wisdom in times of crisis; in this case, in situations where Satan stands ready to attack. Job’s possessions were restored to him after he recognized his position compared to God’s. When we limit God’s power and authority, we open our heart to deception from the Devil. Satan wants to divide us from reassurance in the true King.

The greatest shield that will protect us from the Enemy is intimacy with and trust in God Almighty. Not only does intimacy with God give us eternal clarity, but it gives us hope and trust in a higher power as we navigate through troubled waters. Our faith in the power of God will remove us from any temptation and stabilize us under the protection of His love. It is promised that we will be given wisdom if we ask God for it (James 1:5) and that, if we “come boldly to the throne of our gracious God…we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most” (Hebrews 4:16).

Will you seek our Heavenly Father first, as it says in Matthew 6:33? Will you ask for wisdom in the midst of the darkness where Satan lurks? Even Job’s friends could not provide Job with wisdom, yet God is a merciful, loving Father who approached Job and restored to him all that was lost.

We don’t have to wait like Job did; we shouldn’t whine, complain, and wallow in self-pity before God reminds of who we are in Him. We can boldly approach God immediately, no matter the circumstances. We can rest in the unchanging power of God as a resource during desperate times.

If we fill our hearts with faith, hope, and praise to God for who He is, we can overcome the attacks of Satan, because our greatest counterattack is resting in the one who made the Behemoth strong and mighty, who commanded the sun to set and the moon to rise, who gives the “donkey his freedom” and “horse its strength.” Will you trust in the all-sufficient protector who keeps the “sea inside its boundaries”, knows where “the gates of death are located”, and “sends rain to satisfy the parched ground”?

God thinks you should. Satan may throw trouble your way, but this God we serve is mighty to save. Go to him, and the trouble you endure will turn to dust in the palm of His hand.

Seeing Through the Struggle: The Gift of Promises

You see it on graduation caps, church slogans, websites, social media profiles, favorite verses on Christian Mingle. Surely, you know exactly what verse I'm referring to without me telling you. According to Biblegateway.com, this verse is ranked second most popular in the Bible. John 3:16 is number one. It's no surprise John 3:16 is number one, since it is full of good feelings and an incredible reminder of how much God sacrificed to be in relationship with us. Number two on the list is similar to number one: a feel-good promise that demonstrates how deeply God values us. Unfortunately, the same verse that delivers good feelings to all is also misunderstood by many.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" 

When you type in Jeremiah 29:11 into Google, the eighth website to pop up is titled, "Stop Taking this Verse Out of Context!" My guess is that this verse is taken out of context quite often. Similar to those signs in the park that say, "Do not feed geese pizza." Most likely, someone fed the geese Pizza Hut and killed a couple of them. Don't get me wrong, I do believe God has plans to prosper us. God literally is love (1 John 4:16), and God being love is directly associated with his desire to prosper us like we use our legs to walk. So, when someone uses Jeremiah 29:11 to comfort a friend who is struggling, it does make sense.

The dialogue we might have with someone else about Jeremiah 29:11 is not off the mark, but it is often the default response, and sometimes, hearing a response like that doesn't automatically turn things around for that person struggling. It doesn't make the struggle magically disappear if we memorize that verse. However, if we look at Jeremiah 29:11 from a different angle, we might quickly discover a different perspective on the struggle. Whether we are the one struggling or we are helping someone through a struggle, what if Jeremiah 29:11 was presented in the context in which it was actually given and declared?

Now, let's take it a step further: what if we saw Jeremiah 29:11 was more about God's promise to community, not to the individual? Further, God's promise to prosper us and not harm us does not mean we will be without pain, suffering, and tribulation. In fact, James 1:5 instructs us to take joy in the trials! God's declaration that his plan does not include harm does not mean we will live pain-free lives because God will magically take them away. No, God is declaring that his promise to bring about hope from a hopeless situation and good from a season of sorrow still stands. Despite their horrible situation, and "though the deliverance of the church do not come in our time, it is sufficient that it will come in God’s time, and we are sure that that is the best time" (Biblestudytools.com). Why? Because his promise is to prosper us, even if it means wading through the pain first.

The Lord is never at an uncertainty (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary), so his promises remain, even if our sin nature brings about temporary destruction. See, God does not promise we will be exempt from temporal pain (John 16:33), but he does promise his protection and guidance through a world filled with sin. Though pain may come in the night, joy and prosperity is promised for tomorrow (Psalm 30:5). Tomorrow might be 5 years from now. Breakthrough might not come until 10 years from now. Victory might not be evident until we are standing before God in the Heavenly realms, but it doesn't take anything away from God's sovereignty and ability to do exactly as he promised: configuring a plan to prosper us, to give us hope an a future.

How can we apply this to our prayer life and life in general? How can we live out Jeremiah 29:11 in the context it was written? First, don't waste time questioning why God is allowing the pain and suffering. Instead, turn mourning into praise and adoration - looking forward to his promises despite what a sinful world might do to derail you from resting on those promises.

Stop begging God to do away with the pain so you can feel better, but instead declare those promises over you and watch God transform you through the holiness he freely gives - "Be holy, because I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15-16). You are set a part, so no amount of pain and suffering you go through in this life will diminish or destroy God's promise to you and for you. You will still have a future despite your setbacks.You will have setbacks despite God's plan for you, but those setbacks will never come close to disqualifying God from acting on those promises.You still have a reason to hope for a brighter future, despite present circumstances screaming otherwise. If we tune our ears toward eternity, not just in the present downfall we're experiencing, we will quickly turn our sorrow into dancing because God does not just have eternity in store for us, his promises are eternal as well. They do not fade.

God's promise in Jeremiah 29:11 is to the Jews, who were taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon during the king's reign. Talk about an unfortunate time for the Jews! They were considered exiles, yet God's plan was to not harm them but to give them prosperity and hope for a brighter future? Doesn't look like it! It looks like they're prisoners!

Maybe you are experiencing life as if you're a prisoner - no hope, just pain and suffering. During this time, it is so difficult to rely on the promises of God. Jeremiah 29:11 does not promise the problems will go away quicker than OxiClean gets the stain out, but God does promise prosperity despite the current struggle, even if prosperity doesn't reveal itself until later. And, maybe the pain you're experiencing might be one of the very aspects of your life that launches you into something greater.

So, during the struggle, wait on God. Use the struggling time in the desert to speak with him and listen to his voice. Before you know it, you will find yourself in the En Gedi of your life, sipping from the stream and thanking God for what it took to get there. Be patient, rest in his promises, and when the desert shows up, his promises will guide you to the stream of Living Water.

Seeing Through the Struggle: The Gift of Perseverance

Within the church, I hear a common phrase uttered among folks of all ages: “I’m in a difficult season,” or “we’re going through some challenges.” In fact, these topics of conversation are not just limited to the churchgoing family or individual. We are all guaranteed difficulty, and some encounter seasons that cannot be overcome by the power of the individual experiencing the pain. God doesn’t promise a pain-free life for those who believe in him, but he does promise he has overtaken it. There is victory in the end! Unfortunately, in moments of struggle, it is hard to see past the fog and into the perspective of God. Even if God doesn’t snap his fingers to make the fog disappear, he does give us the perfect set of instructions on how to encounter the season of obstacles. Within these set of instructions, God promises us an outcome that develops from putting on an attitude, mindset, and perspective that not only honors him, but delivers you through the difficulty and into victory.

        One of these mindsets comes from James 1:1-4:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Not only are we commanded to allow the trials to test our faith, but to take joy in them! Be thrilled that you get to experience difficulty, because in the end, it is the pathway to maturity and completeness in Christ. Your joy through pain is not an excuse for complacency and laziness; we are also called to act in wisdom, not like the foolish and ignorant. However, our attitude and perspective should be focused on our end goal: how our trials can positively influence our maturity in Christ Jesus. Unfortunately, it is during struggle we often take our eyes off of Jesus and/or demand that he take care of our situation. Our attitude is not right. Perseverance is being patient in the midst of difficulty. Unfortunately, steep in fight or flight, we go into protective mode, building steel walls around our heart so nothing can penetrate its vulnerable state. We close up instead of opening up to God’s provision. We become so damaged when we face trials and will even go as far as crafting made-up scenarios in our mind to justify our fear and disappointment. In essence, the trials and possibility of upcoming trials dictate our present attitude. Often, we kick God out of the situation and/or let the situation determine how we approach God instead of letting God teach us and mold us through the struggle.

In James 1:1-4, he does not diminish the impact trials have on us. In no way is James downplaying the power a difficult season can have. Instead, he is describing a mindset we can choose to have in the midst of a season we have don’t have a choice over. Nobody ever told you you have to cheer up when life is tough, but nobody said you couldn’t take joy in those seasons either. Yes, trials are no fun, but trials never had control over your attitude and perspective. You do. You can choose joy through trials instead of pouting about it. God didn’t just gift you with life, but he gifted you the freedom to choose who you trust in and what attitude you will have no matter what. Choosing to have a godly perspective that is filled with joy through difficulty is another way of saying, “I trust you, Jesus! Do what you will in this season.”

 Despite the world providing “solutions” on how to cure “bad vibes” by “doing you,” ask God what he is looking to do with you through the season of trial. A trial-filled season is not the time to bail on God, but to lean in, stand your ground, and go deeper than you have ever gone before. What if instead of reacting through your emotions, you listen to the Spirit and what it is saying to you? Your response to trials will determine the level of growth you reach. Don’t let the level of difficulty you face determine the limitations you place on your growth. God has gifted you the ability to persevere and overcome in the midst of pain. Let it finish its work so you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Amen.

Personal Testimony: My Healing vs. God's Healing

I don't often find myself in an emotional battle with God. Whenever I belligerently point my finger at God, outraged by his lack of intervention in my life when I need it most, I quickly discover I am the one who loses out every time I go down that ill-advised road. I am most certainly always the one who returns the Father with an apologetic attitude. This reason alone compels me to choose who to side with and who to oppose carefully, because let's be honest, any time we transform into attack mode against God, we are opposing him and what we originally believe about him before our outburst.

For most, if not all of the population, the aspect of God that becomes the most puzzling, frustrating, and surprising is his presence, intervention, and timing when we need him most. It feels as though we have a longer list of times where God did not fix things than when he did sort things out in our favor.

"God wasn't there when I needed him most," is a phrase heard often in our world, and can be so detrimental, it can lead some to completely walking out on their belief. After all, who wants to serve, love, and believe in a God who not only abandons us when we need him most, but is nearly impossible to find in the physical realm to begin with? In the end, with this mindset, many would conclude that being a follower of Jesus is a dangerous game because most who commit to believing in God most likely will feel abandonment when they need him, even if they never were abandoned to begin with (we can be confident in God never abandoning us when we look at Hebrews 13:5).

Personally, I have felt most abandoned by God when I am physically sick. For over 14 years, I have battled migraines. In many ways, I struggled believing it was "just a migraine" because it involved so many other side effects; vertigo, numbness (typically on the left side, waist up), severe headaches. I tried everything from praising God through my pain to rebuking the pain in Jesus' name. I even took pills at the right time to get rid of the pain, drank plenty of water, etc. and it still didn't get rid of the occasional migraine. In most cases, I would pray for healing and have others pray as well, and I was never healed. Then, in July 2017, I had a mini-stroke due to a tiny blood clot finding its way through a small hole in my heart. A massive hospital bill and one year later, and I am still taking pills to take the pressure off of getting another stroke. Since July 2017, I have gotten five migraines, so I am still not completely healed.

From 2003 to 2017, the battle between God was intense. I would often ask God, "Why aren't you here for me when I need you most?" I was raised in a Christian home and never had a memorable season in my life where I was on the fence about believing in God. I always believed in God and considered him Lord of my life, but that didn't mean I never had my doubts about his ability to intervene and be the God he says he is. When your sick over and over again, viewing God is like seeing Spiderman when he first discovers he had the ability to shoot a web out of his wrist. Sometimes he used it correctly, and other times he would try to shoot it, but nothing would come out as he would plummet to the ground below, looking like a fool who promises success but fails at every jump. The problem with viewing God from this perspective is that you believe in everything else about him, but you hesitate to believe he'll follow through when he shoots his version of a web. Therefore, you don't actually believe in God entirely.

When the mini-stroke happened, my attitude was the opposite of what most would expect. I could have walked out on God, and from a worldly view, I would have been completely justified. God didn't intervene when I had migraines, and now I have a stroke and a massive hospital bill because of it. Some God you are, I could have thought. Instead, I felt a wave of blessing, because God protected me from far more than just a migraine. His saving grace protected me from long term disability, flipping my life upside down because the stroke could've flipped my health on its side. Everything I aspired to be would be incinerated by this unmerciful stroke. Yet, God protected me from a life I couldn't even imagine.

The stroke, though, wasn't the only event in my life where I had a perspective change. January 6th, 2016, I had a difficult beginning to the new year. Outside of my physical health, I was dealing with additional issues that made me question my purpose. So, I went to the show by myself to see the movie A Monster Calls. Little did I know it would be about inner healing, as the main character would learn some valuable lessons from a made-up monster about letting go during his mother's battle with cancer. The main theme in the movie was that healing often comes to the rescue in ways we least expect. The boy is belligerent when he finds out the monster is not going to save his mother, so he spends most of the film viewing the monster like a Spiderman who can't shoot his web properly.

How often do we immediately assume God bailed on us when our physical pain does not go away. Or, better yet, when our situation doesn't improve when we ask God to make it improve? How many times do we only see the circumstances around us as a litmus test for God's goodness, but fail to look internally to see what God is doing within?

One day, during Jesus' ministry in Capernaum, a paralyzed man was lowered into the house from the ceiling where Jesus was visiting. The paralyzed man was hoping to walk again, and the men lowering him on the mat were hoping for the same. Spoiler alert, Jesus did heal the man, but that's not what I want to focus on. Verses before the man is healed of his paralysis, Jesus sees their faith and says to the paralyzed man,

"My child, your sins are forgiven."

(Mark 2:5)

"Your sins are forgiven"? Not, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home"? If I were the paralyzed man, I would have been hysterical! What about my pain? I would question. I don't care about my sin, I want my pain to be gone! I would demand. 

Some Pharisees were in the area and witnessed what Jesus said, so they told Jesus only God can forgive sins. Jesus' response? "Why do you question this in your hearts?" (v. 8).

Jesus understood there was need of physical healing, but he is also aware of our need for heart healing as well. What Jesus saw when he was approached by the paralyzed man was a heart change. Jesus recognized what was in the man's heart and healed him from his sins. In addition, he healed the man's physical ailment as well.

Unfortunately, most people are so wrapped up in the physical circumstances that they fail to see what other forms of healing God desires to accomplish within us. In these cases, our hearts become so hardened by what appears to be God's lack of protection that we miss out on partnering with what God is doing inside of us. 

Bear in mind, I am not suggesting we just accept that God will not or cannot heal us physically because he does not want to or cannot do it. His desire is to not only heal us physically, but to do a soul work that involves a change of heart. Paul writes about physical training compared to godliness in 1 Timothy 4:8: "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." In other words, while the physical body has importance, godliness, which comes from the heart and soul, is of greater importance for now and to come. 2 Corinthians 4:16 says, "...though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." In 1 Timothy, Paul mentions that strict physical training does "little to promote holiness...there must be a deeper work on the soul than any which can be accomplished by the mere mortification of the body" (Barnes Notes on the Bible - Commentary). In 2 Corinthians, we are encouraged that our renewal comes from inward transformation, not by the body. Therefore, what we desire in the flesh and physical is understandable, but our main focus should be on heart and soul healing, because that's what will go with us in thew present and future, afterlife.

Friends, what if we focused on trusting God through the entire process, knowing that he is in the business of healing in more ways than just physically? Jesus healed the paralyzed man of his sins first because of his faith that comes from the heart, then he healed him physically. Though inward faith and trust doesn't promise immediate outward healing of our situation on our watch, it does provide transformation in the Spirit, and God is at work in more ways than we know. If we limit God to what we expect him to heal and do with our circumstances, we will miss out on what he is actually doing through us. Let go of your expectations, let God intervene in his own way, and declare that his plan is perfect. 

He is doing far more healing in you than you will ever know in the moment. Watch and be amazed.

Your Herod vs. His Provision - Who Wins?

Let's set the scene. Just like a play, there are characters, a most notably, an antagonist  and protagonist. We begin with a prophet who makes a bold statement:

Matthew 1:23: "Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means 'God with us.'"

The setting is Bethlehem, which is Jesus' birthplace, which falls around the time of our antagonist, King Herod. While the protagonist (Jesus) and the antagonist have not met yet, King Herod is fuming with jealousy. Instead of initially making his hatred of the 'newborn king of the Jews' known, he disguises his desire to kill with these words:

Matthew 2:8: (to the wise men) "...when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!"

This statement coming from King Herod is the equivalent to an Apple employee heading over to Samsung only to "check out how amazing the iPhone X is." Sure, that's probably the only reason. Imagine how bad of a liar King Herod is. Here is a newborn baby, already considered a king of the Jews, and King Herod is disturbed (Matt. 2:3).

Within the first 12 verses of Matthew 2, we can infer Herod's intentions are not healthy. Verse three notes that Herod was "deeply disturbed" when he heard of Jesus' birth. He later tries to cover his hatred by commanding the wise men to find Jesus' whereabouts (v. 8), and we once again get the sense that Herod's intentions are not good when God warns the wise men to not return to Herod

Note: When God says not to return to someone, that person is probably unhealthy for you.

While Herod's track record only gets worse (see Matthew 2:16 and his annihilation of babies), the focus is not on who Herod is, but who God is in the midst of Herod. Pointing out Herod's absolute disgust with Jesus is important to note because his actions during this time would lead anyone to believe Jesus was good as dead. In addition, reading the story without God's intervention in mind would lead us to believe Jesus and his caretakers would never make it out alive with Herod hot on their tale.

Yet, God had other plans, and he would intervene at all costs. Check out all of the recorded times in Matthew 2 alone:
1. "When it came time to leave, [the Wise Men] returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod." (v. 12)
2. "After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. 'Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,' the angel said. 'Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.'" (v. 13)
3. "When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. 'Get up!' the angel said. 'Take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead.'" (v. 19-20)
4. "But when [Joseph] learned that the new ruler of Judea was Herod’s son Archelaus, he was afraid to go there. Then, after being warned in a dream, he left for the region of Galilee." (v. 22)

On four occasions, God prevents mighty King Herod's hand from impacting the life of Jesus. Remember, this is the same Herod who ordered all boys between newborn and two years old in and  around Bethlehem to be slaughtered, and it was done at his command. This is a powerful king, yet God demonstrates more power in the form of his provision.

Don't we all have our own "Herods" in life? It might be a big, ugly Herod that shows up in the most obvious ways. It might be an inability to pay off bills, a broken relationship, loneliness, depression, suicidal thoughts, abusive relationships, cancer, a struggling loved one, anxiety and doubt, or pornography; it could be a combination of those things. Our Herods come in many forms, some not even listed. These problems and burdens will do anything to destroy you. You sit, helplessly, watching the world around you crumble because of this Herod or these Herods in your life.

Ok, so we have Herods, and they're painful to think about. But we also have God, and his provision and guidance will defeat any and every foe, no matter how colossal, intrusive, and obtrusive they can be. God had a plan to send himself down to Earth as a man to save a dying world, but God also has a plan for you to be victorious, walk in freedom, and live out the glory of our Father.

We have our battles, but God has his provision, and he is scared to provide against our Herods. There is one thing we can do to secure daily victory in the midst of our Herods bearing down hard on us:

Jeremiah 29:13

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart."

Matthew 6:33

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."

These verses do not promise storms will not happen, and Herods will cease to exist. But it promises two things: you will find God when you look for him and he will provide you with enough, every time. There are dark days when it doesn't feel like God is in your midst. You might wonder if you do have enough. Remember: these verses are promises, and God promises to you and I that he is in our midst and will give us all we need.

Don't fret, his provision is always stronger than our Herods. Nothing surprises him.

The Evidence of God's Love: Good News if You're a Bull - Part I

Do you ever have that moment when your error feels greater than the forgiveness you receive from that person? You are so ashamed, so weary, and so guilty that one apology does not suffice. It might satisfy the one hurt by your actions, but you are your own worst critic. You are not content with the apology you gave, but your insistence that there must be more you could do irritates the one you hurt. They command you to drop it, let it go, and stop giving it negative attention, but you refuse. They want to move on, but you keep digging in and bringing up what you have done. They declare it is in the past, and they might even grab your shoulders and tell you it’s nothing to worry about. Nothing they tell you will convince you to move on from your misdeed.

                

Whether we voice our displeasure with the mistake we made or not, admitting that we are prone to sin and likely to make mistakes is difficult to do. To some degree, we are all OCD about being good to others and living a mistake-free life. When we do sin against someone, it feels like a point is being deducted from our scoresheet. We want to make it right with others, but all too often we don’t forgive ourselves and/or don’t feel forgiven. Criticism of ourselves comes naturally to us, and it can become difficult to move on when we should.

This type of criticism is nothing new. A long time ago, before Jesus’ time, a sinful nature meant paying a steep price every year. The old system directed the people to sacrifice animals like a goat or a bull in order to take away sin. The act of sacrificing an animal was meant to provide the people with a reason to move on from the sin and live in freedom temporarily. If sacrificing an animal could atone for sin, even temporarily, that’s a pretty good bargain. For a guy like me, I would do whatever I could to remind myself that I am worth more than my mistakes.

           

However helpful the act of sacrificing goats and bulls was for the people, there was one minor kink that needed to be smoothed out: atoning for sin happened one too many times. The people were reminded every year how sinful they were. There had to have been some level of moaning and groaning with all of the repeat sacrificing going on. “I forgot to take care of Pumpkin this weekend! Now the dog is dead. Time to sacrifice another goat.” The people were born into sin, and now they had to pay for it every time? Maybe that’s not such a good bargain after all.

           

 The worst part of animal sacrifices? God did not even like that system! Take a look:

 “That is why, when Christ came into the world, [Jesus] said to God, ‘You did not want animal sacrifice or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer. You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin. Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will O God – as is written about me in the Scriptures’” (Hebrews 10:5-7).

So, God did just that; He sent someone to atone for all sin for all time. Jesus became the High Priest and “offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time” (Hebrews 10:12). In other words, there no longer needed to be a priest who “stands and ministers before the alter day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins” (Hebrews 10:11). Remembrance of our sin has already been canceled out because of a one-time sacrifice that actually works. Jesus came not just to cancel our sin, but to give us a reason to never remember it again. All debts have been paid, and no bull or goat is needed to be slain to forgive us.

              

It sounds like a pretty simply pill to swallow. When Jesus was that sacrifice, good for all time, we don’t need a bull or a goat to sacrifice. Simple concept, right? While it is certainly a simple concept, we don’t live like it. Though most of us do not have a physical bull to sacrifice, the metaphorical bull rests on our shoulders the same way. We have the mindset that we owe something to God to balance out our sin. Carrying our burden and strapping the bull to our back, we drag our feet to the top of the mountain. Then, we throw the bull to the alter, wearily crying to the heavens, “Take my bull! I am a sinner. I am unworthy to be yours. Here is my sacrifice!” 

You must stop dragging your feet! Put down that bull and come down from that mountain! Lift your praise to God! The High Priest came, and he represents hope and an Old Covenant forgotten. Your burdens are no more, brother. Your sin has been removed, sister. Your Father and Savior says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds” (Hebrews 10:17).

Use the time spent sulking about your sin and making up for your misdeed and instead praise Jesus for what he has already done. Recognize that you are a “new creation, the old is gone and the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17) and live in the promise that “if we confess (acknowledge) our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (1 John 1:9). We do not need to be reminded of our sin when we have a High Priest to cleanse us of them. All we have to do is acknowledge our sin, admit that we need his grace, kindness, and mercy, and our sins will be atoned for, once for all time.

After all, this is the Gospel and this is the Truth.

A New Approach to God

This is for the fist-shakers; for those who are promised one thing, but given another; who firmly believe that light is at the end of the tunnel, but it consistently does not show up. This is for those who feel every opportunity is a dead-end, where life is sucked dry and hope is but a passing shadow. This is for all people who have the wrong perception of God and hope to change that. This is for all who desire to see past their circumstances and into the goodness of God and his plan for those who believe wholeheartedly.

The script says "God is good. God is powerful." Some would say there are aspects of God that make him worthy of that title. Paul did the best he could to express to other Christians how intense God's love is for us. Ephesians 3:17-18: "And I pray that you, being established in love, may have power...to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ." Pastors preach sermons and family members encourage and remind each other of God's infinite love. Naturally, it is easy to believe it when others speak about it or write about it.

But those experiences don't always line up with what people say or write. Exit what people say and enter those dirty, abhorrent situations when God doesn't make sense. God becomes an ostensible thought. You compare him the world around you: What about the kids starving in Africa? What about people who have chronic disease without deserving it? Has God vanished in those times? It seems that God no longer exists when it comes down to crunch time. It seems the miracles Jesus performed back then are only from yester-year. Everything goes our way one day and the very next God steps out for a bathroom break. "Where is God when I need him most?" We murmur. Where is this almighty God, worthy of praise and deserving of all glory? Sometimes, we go as far as mocking God's existence because it isn't the type of existence we like. It doesn't line up with the God we want and we hope to get in every circumstance. While God's love and other such traits are wonderful to have in our lives, his mysteries are also part of the relationship, and it is the mysteries of God that can sometimes leave a bad taste in our mouth.

The negative view of God becomes most apparent when it involves the messy parts of our own lives. Our anger becomes bitterness, and our bitterness separates us from the Truth of who God is. At a point where we justifiably want answers and shake our fists doing so, we often forget who we are shouting at. Our words are a mixture of finger pointing, grumbling, complaining, and a sprinkle of self-pity.

We might also cry out as Job did: "Have I refused to help the poor, or crushed the hopes of widows? Have I been stingy with my food and refused to share it with orphans? No, from childhood I have cared for orphans like a father, and all my life I have cared for widows. Whenever I saw the homeless without clothes and the needy with nothing to wear, did they not praise me for providing wool clothing to keep them warm? (Job 31:16-21)"

In other words, "Why me? What did I do to deserve your wrath? I have done things for you, God! I shouldn't be punished!" Though we might not say the same thing as Job did, we become so demanding when God doesn't fulfill our needs. We want him to fix everything and make all problems dissolve before our eyes.

Ok, you might not throw your grenades at God when things don't go our way, but there are other ways we speak to God that might not be all that beneficial...and that you might relate to. Most of the time, other than when we throw tantrums, we resort to a quiet prayer that cries out for help. We come before God, bowing down in reverence, ready to remind God of our list of things we need from him. He becomes our supplier, giving us any survival kit we will need. Sometimes it's good to ask God for help, but not like this. Sometimes it becomes a list.

Job was one to quickly "remind" God of his suffering: "These outcasts oppose me to my face. They send me sprawling and lay traps in my path. They block my road and do everything they can to destroy me. They know I have no one to help me. They come at me from all directions. They jump on me when I am down. (Job 30:12-15)"

Well, God, do something! Get in there and help Job! Help me when I need it too! We cry out in our prayers and our tantrums. We want God to give us grace, peace, mercy, wisdom, etc, as if we ran out a long time ago. "God, everything you have been giving me is not enough. Give me more please!"

God's response? Epic. God basically reminds Job who he is. Not the typical, "Hey, I made the mountains" response. Not the "I made animals, trees, and the sun" mini-lecture. Not at all. This was an all out confrontation, "brace yourself like a man," "Are you talkin' to me?" face-to-face chat. Job kicked down the door, and God gave the stern, "Sit down!" after Job ran his mouth; an unnecessary monologue in the midst of an all-knowing Master of the Universe. Sit down, and let me tell you more than just the mountains. Let me tell you more than just the animals, trees, and the sun.

Here's God in response to Job. You might want to read this 30 times:
"Have you explored the springs from which the seas come? Have you explored their depths? Do you know where the gates of death are located? Have you seen the gates of utter gloom? Do you realize the extent of the earth? Tell me about it if you know! (Job 38:16-18)

God goes on. More rhetorical questions that God knows Job cannot answer. More questions than Job can do with. Furthermore, God's sense of humor comes through:
"Where does light come from, and where does darkness go? Can you take each to its home? Do you know how to get there? But of course you know all this! For you were born before it was all created and you are so very experienced! (Job 38:19-21)

After approximately 71 verses (Job 38-39:30) of God responding to Job's reminders of his anguish, suffering, and good deeds, He asks Job these two questions:
"Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God's critic, but do you have the answers? (Job 40:1-2)"

Job's reply? "I am nothing - how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand. I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say. (Job 40:3-5)

But God was not finished.

God goes on to describe the creatures of the earth, large and explainable. In fact, He effortlessly describes many of the creatures today's websites have difficulty putting a finger on. In regards to the Behemoth, Wikipedia says "Suggested identities range from a mythological creature to an elephant, hippopotamus, rhinoceros or crocodile." In Job 40:15-19, God describes it from head to tail: "Take a look at Behemoth, which I made, just as I made you. It eats grass like an ox. See its powerful loins and the muscles of its belly. The sinews of its thighs are knit tightly together. Its bones are tubes of bronze. Its limbs are bars of iron. It is a prime example of God's handiwork, and only its Creator can threaten it." God could have just said, "I made an animal called a Behemoth." But he doesn't. He describes what he made, "just as I made you."

Wikipedia begins the page about the Behemoth with these words:
"Behemoth is a beast mentioned in Job 40:15-24." These are God's words to Job. They are words about a beast that clearly its Creator knows the most about. "Only the Creator can threaten it." Only God himself can disturb the lifestyle of such an animal. God's message to Job: I made the Behemoth and you. Both I know by name, and I can describe each in tremendous detail. This is who you complain to, Job.

God continues to speak of the Leviathan, another large creature, which goes for another 35 verses (Job 41:1-34).

If these verses provide any sort of evidence about God, its that He 1) is an expert on his creation and 2) he knows exactly what is going on. He knows all of the nuances, personality traits, quirks, characteristics, defense mechanisms, techniques, habitats, capabilities, limitations, formations, transformations, life cycles, moods, symptoms, ideas, behaviors, etc. He knows what has happened, is happening, and what will happen. Edwin Louis Cole, author of Maximized Manhood, writes, "God created this whole thing, including you and me, and by His active presence. He sustains it all. God is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-seeing. (45)" 

Since God created all of the Earth, God is also in control, and many times, whether we come to him with a list or with murmurs, both methods can be detrimental to the relationship and the work the Lord is doing in and through you.

God doesn't just speak to Job this way. Isaiah 40:25-26 shows that God is not ignorant and unaware of your troubles:
"'To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?' asks the Holy One. Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing. O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles?"

David, over a period of time, modeled a similar approach in many of his Psalms, and this is the perspective of God we should all adopt:

"When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers - the moon and the stars you set in place - what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? (Psalm 8:3-4)"

David is asking, "In all of your great power and sovereignty, what kind of Master thinks so highly of something so small in comparison to all He has made?" He is placing value on the perspective God has of him, and it changes how he approaches his Savior. This is the same song David sings that starts with, "O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!"

So, what can we do differently?
#1. God offers hope, and he freely gives us wonderful things in Him (2 Corinthians 2:12). These are already promised to us in full, so why do we need to beg God for what he is already giving everyday? Why do we throw complaints and murmurs God's way? God knows exactly what he is doing. Though David went through plenty of trouble, he was good at giving God credit where it was due, and he did so in Psalm 34:4 - "I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened." If this is true about David - if he was radiant with joy when he seeks and prays to listening God, then perhaps we can view God this way too.  It is not about your list. It is not about you telling God what to give you. Perhaps we can rid ourselves of the notion that God doesn't care about us or that he negligently looks the other way while we suffer. It is time to dispel the lie that God only desires that we suffer to learn our lessons. It's time to stop thinking we need to convince God to do what's best for us and start noticing that God is and has been. David received plenty of reward from just meeting with the Lord and praising him through joy and sorrow. His reward was a deeper intimacy and understanding with his Creator. You can reach that same level of intimacy by praising him no matter what circumstances say otherwise.

#2. We can train our mind and heart to dwell on greater things that are eternal, not just the temporal. Paul encourages fellow believers to press on, never give up, and look ahead to greater things: "That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen... (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)" If we are striving towards what is already promised to us, we will not be intimidated by things that come and go like the wind because they cannot measure up to the greater things in store. This is a gift we can cling to, even though we do not have it right away. When our perspective changes, turning our hearts towards what is eternally true, we prepare our hearts and minds for heavenly desires and thoughts.

These strategies, lived daily and intentionally, will provide a more successful life free from the imaginary bondage we place on ourselves. Let us break free from them by changing our false perspectives of God and turning them into truths that are evident throughout Scripture.

Live Like Intertidal Fish

Intertidal fish are interesting. They swim closer to the shore, where the waves are more volatile and become more intense during storms. The most intriguing about the fish, though, is not their vibrant colors or the unique traits they might possess, but the way they respond to water. On the outside, it looks like chaotic, dark, misty, eerie, and stormy; nothing a sailor would want to be a part of.

Based on appearance, if you were to ask the fish how they feel about this perpetual violence they experience, they would respond in a very mellow way.

"No problem. Just floating along," they would murmur. "Just drifting wherever the storm takes us." Who knows, maybe the fish are completely unaware the storm is there. For any human being, the feisty waves could be reason to panic - and panic most would.

But the fish, not the fish. They are not effected by the waves. In fact, the condition of the waves and the location the fish are at doesn't appear to be a problem. They have accepted the environment they are a part of and go as far as using it to their advantage. Like any other species in the ocean, Intertidal fish understand their surroundings. Because they are a part of violent waves, what appears rough on the outside is calm under the surface. They bob back and forth, working with the current, weaving back and forth without much effort and swimming. The expression is priceless - as if there is no change in the intensity.

Like all fish of the sea, God made them specifically to fit into the culture in which they live. These fish are made to survive the bleakest of weather. While chaos ensues, they remain as calm as any other species.

We are similar in that we have daily "storms" that are known as "curveballs," "lemons," and other more endearing terms. Most would say these storms are so consistent, it is only fitting to label any good thing "too good to be true." The moment a good thing happens, a bad thing follows. The moment a bad thing introduces itself, another bad thing follows. Storm after storm, wave after wave, current after current. They keep coming, and we are often left with are heads barely above water.

Our response to these storms is where we could learn from the Intertidal fish. We get scared. Nerves kick in and we might even blame God or become distant from him. Though he made the waves, storms, and us, it is him we drift from. Sometimes we cry out to God in anguish and present our pleas to God as if we need to persuade him. In other cases, we complain, toss up our hands, or cry quietly until the storms pass.

Though we both experience extreme storms at times, it seems like the little Intertidal fish of the sea have a lot to teach us about these storms.

While no one should feel the need to rationalize why their storms are so unbearable, there is no need to ponder the destructive behavior of these storms when, just like the fish, we are thought of and taken care of. These fish may seem different then us, especially the way they handle pressure. But, humans do not need to be so different than the fish. Just like the fish, God made us. Just like the fish, he gave us distinct and unique features that allow us to adapt and understand our situation as we grow.

Fortunately, God doesn't just show us through the Intertidal fish he made. He also reminded us through Matthew 6:26, which says, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"

God cares so deeply about us, that he considers us more valuable than the birds of the air and the fish of the sea - and he cares so much about them. How much more does he care about us then?

As we approach the waves of life, let us be reminded that we are cared for. No storm is too great for God. No tsunami rattles God. He is not hindered by our complex issues; he made you complex so you could stand among those waves with the courage and strength he has given you. He has you, he holds you, and he gives you the tools you need to ride the waves as they come. Most importantly, he gives strength to the weak and weary (Isaiah 40:29), which enables you to grow in character and hope.

The waves often get large, but we have a greater hope in God and his promises. When we firmly plant ourselves on those promises and the mighty hand of God, we can swim as the Intertidal fish do: at peace and content. And, if God's promise to never leave and forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) is not enough, James 1:2-4 is more than enough to provide that everlasting hope:

"Consider it pure joy, brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials (waves) of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Or, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18,

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 

Very wise, those Intertidal fish. Very wise.

How to Figure God Out

Most relationships are like rollercoasters - up and down, up and down. And, though some may argue they have one that is mostly up (or mostly down), it is safe to say no relationship will ever grow if it is 100% up. Why? Because we're dealing with vastly different people. Like snowflakes, we are all completely different from one another; different mindsets, approaches, ideas, hobbies, dislikes, and triggers for different moods.

Being different from someone close to you can be difficult. Why? Because life is easier when everyone agrees with you or looks up to your lifestyle. Teams work better when they agree to a common cause. Congregations form when they agree to the Scriptures and the concepts being taught at church. Everybody feels better when the environment breeds a sense of agreement, nodding of heads, and the word "yes" and "no" said in unison.

Usually, when we come across someone too different than us, but close enough to us, we do one of four things:

1. We try to change them.

2. We conform to what they do/say.

3. We completely walk away from that friendship

4. We accept them for who they are, despite being different than us.

At this point, it is safe to say any other response or reaction would probably fall under one of the three categories listed above.

For example, say your close friend does not like any physical sport, and you do. You have gone all of this time avoiding any physical sport with this person because he will awkwardly join in and fail miserably or he will continue to say no. You have spent most of your friendship agreeing with yourself that you will save him the turmoil of wishing he had never joined in on the "fun," so you never ask him to join you. Finally, the day has come when you ask. Well, if you were following #1 in the list above, you would strive to devoting all of your time changing that person's mindset, treating your friendship with that person as if you were a salesperson and he were your client. You expend all of your energy trying to change that person.

After failing to get your friend to succeed at enjoying what you enjoy, you step into option #2. You consider this to be the only opportunity to save the friendship - by conforming to the very hobbies your friend loves. You try as hard as you can to enjoy World of Warcraft, but it's simply not the same as a good game of basketball. This virtual world is too exhausting to enjoy, so you politely tell your friend this isn't working.

Now you are left with option #3 or #4: walk away or accept them. 

Interestingly, we do these things with God sometimes. In our minds, we want God to be a certain way so we can like him. We try to change him in our minds. We use the grace he has given us as an excuse to do whatever we want. We talk about how some of the laws are so "Old Testament." We want God to fulfill our every need and go as far as disguising our wants as needs. "But God, I need this..." We exchange a heart of gratitude to a tongue that demands from a long list. We complain to God and call it "venting." 

Sometimes, we shrug our shoulders and pout, "Ok...fine. You are God and I am not..." We treat the journey like it is something to whine about until God "hears" us. This, like option #1, takes so much energy and time. We are not fully grateful to God because we are tiring ourselves out with prayers that begin with "But God...." Whether we speak these things directly to God or not, we have this mentality that my life will have to be a living Hell if I am going to have to follow him. We are tricked into believe that God will put us behind bars and take away our fun the moment we show ourselves to him.

So we are left with two options. We accept God for who he is or we walk away from God because of who he is not to us. Unfortunately, there are many who choose the second option. They are tired of the mysteries and the false hope and trying to solve God like he's a puzzle that's missing the last piece. Over time, these people move on and accept the notion that God is not worth their time. 

Whatever the case is, each option above takes so much effort. It takes endless amounts of hair-pulling, teeth-grinding, face-grabbing, and tear-shedding to understand the depths of who God is. Most give up. They separate themselves from him and depend on ignorance and/or bitterness to move on, independent from believing in what they do not understand. Some believe the world will be good to them, giving them fame and attention. And some, still bitter, choose to live the rest of their life slamming God every opportunity they can. Why? Because we long to figure out what we don't know. We desire to have life understood. We crave knowledge and yearn for that knowledge to be at our fingertips. When we don't understand, we look for something else to take its place.

All along, 1 Corinthians 2 exists. And all along, Paul has it clear-cut. We don't need to solve God. We don't need him to be like us or us to be exactly like him to know who he is. Besides, the best relationships are not about what you do together, but about getting to know each other. A relationship with God does not need to involve hobbies or the difference between comfortable and uncomfortable, but it is simply about getting to know the deep love that God desires to lavish on you. God loves you more than you know, and though it comes as a mystery, it is worth pursuing. God is the captain of a ship called Love, and he is good at what he does. He is masterful at it. You don't need to be good at it to receive his love. It doesn't need to be your "hobby" for God to pour it out to you. The moment you spend time with him, with a heart wide open, you become one with him. You share his thoughts and think his ideas (1 Corinthians 2:12)

As we walk this journey, many will falter. Many give up. You might be on the verge of giving up, or you know you never will, but you question God. You are angry at God. You don't understand him, so you are bothered. But be encouraged. Paul says, "What we have received is not the Spirit of the World, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words" (1 Corinthians 2:12-13). 

God and his spiritual realities cannot be taught through mere human words. It cannot be fully understood by man's words, but words inspired by God himself, which is Scripture and those who listen to the prompting of the Spirit:

2 Timothy 3:16 - "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."

1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 - "For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power,with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction."

These two truths keep us grounded in our faith, and because of our faith - being "...fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises" (Romans 4:21) - we can be counted as righteous in his sight. We believe God for what he reveals to us in his timing. As we trust him and believe in him without wandering thought, we receive the blessing in knowing more of him and being promised "the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16).

We know his thoughts, and he freely gives his thoughts to us. Just be you. Let God be God. You don't need to be him when he wants you to be you. He wants to show you, teach you, and instruct you to see things the way he does. That can only happen when we act like his child, not his owner. It isn't your job to figure God out. It is God and the Holy Spirit's job to reveal him to you. And He will do it. Just listen, love, and be amazed by what he has in store. As we continue walking, running, tripping, stumbling, and sprinting through life, remember:

"'What no eye has seen,
    what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived'—
    the things God has prepared for those who love him—
these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit" 
(1 Corinthians 2:9-10).

Love in Every Language

September 11th, 2001 was a horrific event where America witnessed a first-hand account of a terrorist strike on our own soil. The Twin Towers went down with a crash, and many lives are still effected by it 13 years later. When it comes time to tell the story of 9/11 to 5th graders, who were born in 2002 or 2003, teachers are quickly reminded how little the children know about this deadly attack, especially since we haven't seen an event of this magnitude happen on our soil since.

Similarly, there is also great separation from how much we can relate to God's ultimate demonstration of love when he sent his son thousands of years ago. We so easily forget about that act of love and what it meant for us. We watch Passion of the Christ to get an emotional charge, but it only lasts so long when Jim Caviezel acts the role of Jesus. We can even read John 3:16 multiple times and begin to let the Holy Spirit guide us through the visuals, but the truth remains: It is difficult to relate to something that happened long before we were born. Like the 9/11 attacks, we try to close our eyes and imagine Jesus being hung from a tree by nails driven into his arms and legs, but we can only visualize what is concocted in our brains through limited visuals and constricted imaginations.

All of this comes from our limited perception of past events, but what about the simple fact that God's act of love is profound whether we are there to witness it or not? After all, this ultimate sacrifice and demonstration of love covered all sin: past, present, and future. Before even a single fiber was formed in our body, we were forgiven. It is the ultimate act of love that no historical event which occurred and will occur can ever even compare to.Today, our existence is predicated on that single act of love from our Father. That is how deep God's love, mercy, and grace is. It extends beyond that past event when Jesus, age 33, was unjustifiably punished for being considered a blaspheme. However, this event cannot be comprehended because no one was around to see it physically. We must depend on the Holy Spirit to take us to that place.

Oh, that's great, we ponder. God sent his son so we can live!

With all sincerity, we are grateful. I don't doubt that we are grateful, but I am certain most of us cannot fully comprehend what it would look like for God to love us so much that he would send his only son to die a brutal death for us. How many of us has made that kind of sacrifice for someone - especially when they do not deserve that sacrifice? It is unfathomable.

Then again, the beauty of God's love and grace is that it is transferable. While the September 11th attacks only happened once (and will hopefully remain that way), God's demonstration of love and grace continues generation after generation. We can fathom just a piece of God's love because it not only happened before Jesus' death and resurrection, but it continued on afterwards. Furthermore, it did not just happen sporadically throughout history, sprinkled here and there, but it was shown in a multitude of ways. Let's look at Scripture as a way to guide us through those ways, before and after the resurrection of Jesus:

Genesis 1:28 - God's Gift to Mankind
"God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
Not only did God make mankind "in his own image" (v. 27), but he also promised dominion over everything not human. Our father will forever entrust us to supervise, care for, and give proper treatment to everything he created. He has empowered us to do so, which is the ultimate gift alongside life itself.

Joshua 1:5,8 - Words of Affirmation through a Guidebook/His Promises
"Keep this book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."
If you consider historical context, Joshua is the rightful successor to lead the Israelites post-Moses' era. The Lord, knowing Joshua would be frightened of this new role, constantly reminded Joshua to be strong and courageous. Verse 5 says, "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you." God has a two promises for Joshua: 1) to never leave Joshua's side and 2) that there will be success when the Law is carefully followed and studied. Through these promises, Joshua was a successful and prosperous leader. Despite trial and tribulation, the Lord was faithful, and these words of affirmation carried Joshua through.

1 Samuel 23:26-29 - Love in the Form of Refuge
"Saul was going along one side of the mountain, and David and his men were on the other side, hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his forces were closing in on David and his men to capture them, a messenger came to Saul, saying, 'Come quickly! The Philistines are raiding the land.' Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines... And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi."
Again, historical context is needed to understand these verses, and this came at a time when David was fleeing Saul. Saul strongly desired to kill David, and it was "the strongholds of En Gedi" that not only prevented David from getting killed, but it provided an encounter between the two men that led to forgiveness and a mended relationship in the moment. David's life was spared and David went on to spare Saul's life. From both Saul and David's perspective, God showered his love on each man so that they may live to see another day.
Furthermore, En Gedi is found in the middle of the desert, but can be described as a tropical paradise flowing with water, vegetation, and greenery. While David was fleeing in the desert, he must have been growing weak, hungry, and discouraged. When he came upon the caves of En Gedi, not only was he able to hide, but he was also able to stay within "the strongholds of En Gedi" for some time after Saul traveled back home. Ultimately, the strongholds of En Gedi became a refuge for David, from God. Just another gift from God to his people.

Psalm 1:3/Psalm 42:1-2 - Quality Time at the River
"[The righteous] person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season, and whose leaf does not whither - whatever they do prospers."
"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?"
These verses are so similar because David is at a point of intimacy with God. He longs for God, as a deer longs for a drink. The interesting correlation between these verses are how they each connect to a sense of a continuous pouring in, where no one will thirst or hunger again. The tree planted by streams of water continues to be filled by Living Water that never, ever runs dry. It's roots dig deep, clinging to its ever-flowing resource and relying on the River to provide growth inside and out. This tree becomes prosperous and useful, benefitting from the water of life. In the same way, the deer longs for this stream not only as a want, but a need. It will starve without it. David makes this comparison because he too recognizes a strong need for the Lord. When can I go and meet with God? There is a sense of urgency - that without God, no such life will exist. A heart is shattered when God is absent from it.
God wants you to experience quality time with him because he loves you. He desires relationship and intimacy with you - will you reach out your hand and cry out to him, knowing that you not only want him, but need him?

Romans 5:8 - A Demonstration of Love - Acts of Service
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Good teachers tell students how to solve a problem. Great teachers demonstrate how to solve a problem. Why? Because to demonstrate means to show. Demonstrating is taking a problem and modeling it so students who misunderstood the concept can now correct the problem and let it change their thinking.
The same can be said about God's love. By sending his Son, he has not only shown us how much He loves us, but he has modeled for us how we can express that same kind of sacrificial love. God knew sin could easily grab ahold of us and remove all love from our hearts. Therefore, he demonstrated how we as students can relearn the concept of love and how it can be unconditionally given to others - a sacrificial love for the benefit of others. In fact, John 14:12 makes it clear that we can achieve this kind of love, because in it Jesus claims we can do greater things than him: “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. ” In fact, Jesus' death was not the only demonstration of his love, but his life was a demonstration as well. Philippians 2:5,7 encourages us to have the mindset of Christ Jesus: "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Jesus Christ: ...he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant..." God calls us to show that same type of love to those around us. Have the same mindset as Jesus Christ, declares the Lord. And, if Jesus himself claimed we can do greater things than him through the Father, then we can certainly show the same kind of servant-like attitude to those around us.

More than Conquerers
If God demonstrates his love in these many ways, what reason is there that we should withhold or limit any of the love given to us? Romans 8:31: "What, then, shall we say in response to [bondage]? If God is for us, who can be against us?" In other words, if God's love is so intensely showered upon us that we are given new identity in him, and if "neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God" (Romans 8:38-39), then we have no reason to limit that love when it is poured into us from God himself. Nothing, not even an army of hate, can defeat and outweigh the love of God. Therefore, if our identity and stronghold is in Christ Jesus, then we are more than capable of conquering any level of hatred with the same love of God that was resurrected in Jesus and into our heart and soul.

Amen!