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.

The Evidence of God's Love: From: Holy Spirit, To: You (Do Not Open Until...) - Pt. III

If you haven't experienced it yourself, you have probably seen someone go through it. The difference between many of the rooms we walk into are a result of the perpetual battle going on between flesh and Spirit, and that is why many of us experience either loneliness or a sense of true belonging. Do not get confused with the external, environmental sense of belonging or loneliness. You can never read the setting in a book to determine the outcome of the story. In the case of community, a sense of belonging, or loneliness, is found within, and when people find true, genuine community, they know it.
Why do they know it? Because deep down inside we are given with the innate desire to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. We feel connected when others around us genuinely enjoy our company. While this part of the Gospel, unity with fellow believers, is crucial in the development of the newborn Christian. there is another gift that far surpasses the connection we feel with the church body, and this connection is much, much bigger than ourselves.
2 Corinthians 3:17 says, "...where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." We gain true freedom from bondage when we dip into the blessing of the Holy Spirit, whether or not our fellow believers are encouraging our walk with Christ. Now that we are given the blessing of community, our mindset should be on connection with the Spirit, as well as a constant download of the wisdom the Holy Spirit provides.
When Paul preached and spread the Gospel, he warned those who heard him that "Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, [he] relied on the power of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 2:4). Why? So we would "trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God" (2:5). Paul understood that his freedom did not come from the people around him, as encouraging as they might have been. His hope was found in God the Father and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is what took him deeper than he could go, and it gave him freedom from bondage.
Other than giving us freedom, why else would we want to be driven by the Spirit?

1. In order to comprehend the mysteries and secrets of God, we must tap into the Spirit:
"...so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us." (1 Corinthians 2:12)

2. When people lived under the Old Covenant, the glory was to remain sacred and untouched and unseen. Moses actually had to intercede on behalf of the people of Israel. Under today's Covenant, we can see and hear within our hearts the wonderful blessing of transformation into his likeness (Romans 12:1-2).
"..the veil is taken away...all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord...makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image." (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).

3. The Holy Spirit gives us confidence and boldness to live out our true calling - this genuine confidence cannot come from believers, but can merely be encouraged by them (Philippians 2:1-4). Paul calls us to be one in spirit together, encouraging one another to live out love, being "one in spirit and of one mind." However, we receive that confidence and boldness through the promise of the Holy Spirit.
"...as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. So we are confident.."(2 Corinthians 5:5-6).
"Since this new way (the New Covenant talked about in part I) gives us such confidence, we can be very bold" (2 Corinthians 3:12).

4. The power of the Holy Spirit gives us peace and hope that transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
"...by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope" (Romans 15:13)

5. We receive conviction to live out a healthy lifestyle with our body, including what we see, hear, touch, and think about.
"...don't you know your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

6. You are chosen by God to be imitators of him, and in doing so we receive conviction when living in the Holy Spirit.
"...because our Gospel came to you not only in Word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction" (1 Thessalonians 1:5)

7. We have access to his thoughts! Isn't this amazing? We can access his thoughts about us, the world, and how we can be stewards of it.
"No one can know a person's thoughts except that person's own spirit, and no one can know God's thoughts except God's own Spirit" (1 Corinthians 2:11)
*Remember, we have been given the Holy Spirit, which is "God's own Spirit." = "...but we understand [the Lord's thoughts] because we have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:15-16).

These seven reasons we should invest in the Spirit on a daily basis is only touching the surface. Paul goes much deeper than this, and he encourages us as a body of believers to dive into the secrets of the Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit, we have the mind of Christ, We understand and comprehend the vast knowledge of God when we are devoted to the part of us that is so much greater than our ordinary self (1 Corinthians 2:16). In fact, the Holy Spirit is the very part of us that makes us extraordinary.

As a challenge, begin looking to the Holy Spirit within you for guidance. "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4). One way to "delight yourself in the Lord" is to seek the Holy Spirit. As you do that, you will begin to understand what your hear truly desires.

Go deeper with the Holy Spirit, because with it you will discover things much bigger than yourself.

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!

Credit Where it is Due

          If David, the author of most of the Psalms, has recognized anything at this point in his life, it is that there is greater promise in the Lord and His sovereign protection. Even if emotional turmoil had to come David’s way to help him understand who is ultimately in charge, David eventually stands confidently by his conclusion about God. As Psalm 3 vividly points out, David is at a point of desperation, and in that desperation, he finds that God is the key to the perfect resting place. Still, one Psalm later, David cries out to God, demanding, “Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress…” (Psalm 4:1).

            For several verses after crying out to God, it is almost as if David is speaking for God: “…how long shall my honor be turned into shame?” (Psalm 4:2) Translation: How long shall God be put to shame by vain words and lies? Then, David reminds those who suffer for the sake of Christ Jesus: “…know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself” (v. 2).  God is everything we need (Psalm 1), and yet He still chooses to set us apart for himself!

            How can we allow our lips to speak lies? How can we utter such obscene insults and lies? The Lord is our righteousness, our source of joy, our lover, and our sunshine that lights our way. He is our shelter, our refuge from war, and our healer – yet he chooses us!

            No wonder David commands us to “ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent (Read Psalm 46: 10)” (Psalm 4:4) We are “set apart” (Psalm 4:3) for Him; sinners, offenders, and scoffers, undeserving of His presence. David understood this more than anyone, after what he had done to sleep with another man’s wife. David realizes God is offering him another chance, and because of this, he wants to make known God’s gift of second chances.

            Despite all David has gone through (committing adultery with his best soldier’s wife, being responsible for killing his best soldier, the death of Amnon (son #2) – Absalom (son #1) murdering him, Absalom’s desire to take over with selfish pride and power, and fleeing from his own son’s worldly desires), he has come to genuinely believe that God is more than words will ever express. He begins this deep, intimate, love relationship with God and therefore cannot stop expressing his devotion to God.

            Most importantly, through fleeing, David submits to his true Authority. He sees the second chance he is given and cannot stop rejoicing. Downcast and covered in his own sin, David sees that there is hope, and he takes every opportunity to glorify God through it.

            And boy, does it change his life.

            Do we allow God’s second chances in our lives effect the way we live again? Do we allow ourselves to “ponder in [our] own hearts on [our] beds, and be silent”? When we commit our lives to Christ, do we sing the way David does? Have we praised the way David has? After all, he is our safety, our refuge, our everything.

           David made certain God received credit for all that was going on in His life. He had developed a habit: praising God continually. Nothing could stop him from singing and reflecting on the goodness of God. In fact, nothing can match the joy he has felt when basking in the presence of the Lord: “You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound” (Psalm 4:7).

            God was everything to David. And, if we are to “ponder…and be silent,” we will find ourselves climbing back into the Father’s arms, taking in with awe the indescribable and inspiring power that the Highest of Highs holds in so many forms; reliever of stress, gracious King, personable and loving, listener, giver of joy, peace bringer, and refuge - a list of only a couple of his many attributes. 

Do we give Him the credit He deserves, like David did?

When Life Throws You Lemons...

Do you ever feel like some people are out to get you? Better yet, do you ever feel like life in general is out to make you feel miserable? Sometimes, when life throws you lemons, you cannot simply "make lemonade;" all you can do is get hit by them and hope no permanent damage surfaces.

Fortunately, those "lemons" are the worst of it. David, from the Bible, was not always in the most optimistic situations. David had a son, and his son was jealous of David's position as king. So, his son tried to kill him. If there are any such lemons that hit hard, it is these type of lemons. How can one rejoice in sufferings like this? Romans 5:3 says, "...We also rejoice in our sufferings, because suffering produces perseverance." The great news is that our troubles, our "lemons," produce growth and shape us into strong men and women. The bad news? One does not normally see the good news while the bad news is current. However, through all the chaos and the pain, we can take refuge in something greater than ourselves.

Psalm 4 is all about David expressing his dependence on God. He begins chapter 4 by admitting that God is his  safe net. Furthermore, the chapter then gives any and all readers something to relate to. "You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for himself. The Lord will answer when I call to him" (Psalm 4:3). Are you considered Godly in the eyes of the Lord? Can you be certain that, as you have faithfully served the Lord, He will protect you and set you apart from the wicked and chaos?

As the storms come and you feel there is a small chance you will get out alive, know that God has already got you covered. Your level of safety far outweighs whatever you go through in this life. If you depend on God as if your life depends on it, the safety you feel will eliminate the fear you hold. Take heart, for "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe" (Psalm 4:8).

Resting in Peace

Little kids often complain about the small things. When they do, a well-known phrase often concludes the moment: "Life is not fair." Befuddled, the complaining child stops and mumbles something the parent usually cannot hear. For young children, the big issues in life are small compared to the big issues an adult has to face daily. When the adult complains and someone replies, "Life is not fair," the adult is usually smart enough to respond with something like, "How does that help my situation?" or "Yes, and it does not make any sense." Whatever the situation is for the adult, the truth is, "Life is not fair," is never the cure to a hopeless life. "Life is not fair" only appears to only say, "I told you so."

So, what is the cure? How can we stay afloat during the major storms in life, when everything around you seems to make you want to give up and no longer try? 

It appears there is a reason to take delight in the situation around you.

Read Psalm 3. Do not just read it, but visualize it. Visualize God standing in front of your situation. He is there, not carrying a shield; he is the shield. He takes on the fiercest storm and the biggest problem in life.

To understand the situation, let's think about why this was written. David wrote this little piece when he was king. However, a dilemma had come up while David was in command; it was his son Absalom. Absalom, having a strong desire to be king, wanted to dethrone his father. So, he attacked David, and naturally, David fled.

Without a doubt, David was in trouble. He needed help. His own son attacked him and claimed to be king, and David was in hiding. Out of desperation, he cried out to the One who knew his situation more than anyone else:

"O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me."

-Psalm 3:1 (NLT)

David is desperate. His enemies are great, and he needs someone who is stronger than his situation. As he cries out to God, he realizes who it is that can save him:

"But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high."

-Psalm 3:3 (NLT)

The Lord, defender of the weak, and he is here to hold your head high. David, attacked by his own son, discovered who could keep his head up even in the worst situations. 

It is important to know how David fought through the situation; he reminded himself of where his victory lies. "Victory comes from you, O Lord," David writes in verse 8. David's recognition of who is in control is what gives him a boost.

Whatever situation you are in, remember who is bigger and is more capable of defending you. In Confessions, St. Augustine writes about his current situation and points out that it is "our blessing to know that God is in control." We need to be aware of who is our defender. When David realized that his safety net was the Lord, he responded, "I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side" (v. 6). 

Bill Hybels, senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church and author of Just Walk Across the Room and others, reassures, "Does your problem seem bigger than life, bigger than God himself? It isn't. God is infinitely bigger than any problem you had or will have..."

Talk about relieving the pain of feeling like you're on your own! God is so much bigger than anything you have ever faced or will face. Whether your son is attacking you like Absalom attacked his father, or you are just graduating from college and staring reality in the face, God is so much bigger and will defend you. Furthermore, Hybels even reminds you of the sin you are committing when you decide to not trust in him as our "shield": "...and every time you call a problem unsolvable, you mock God."

Next time you think your problem is too big, think about who your shield and defender is. Picture God fighting off everything you are too weak to fight off yourself. God has your back, and he will continue keeping you safe. 

What you can do is trust in your defender. You can rely on God through every situation that is too big for you. The more you accept God's sovereign power to save you, the more you will find yourself living in safety.

"I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me."

-Psalm 3:5 (NLT)

Your burden can be His. Give it to him and live in safety.