Take Heart

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me"- Psalm 23:4 (NIV).

Being a Christian does not mean we are exempted from heartbreak, health problems, relational difficulties, job losses, or financial difficulties. It also does not mean that God has left us or forsaken us. A good friend pointed out that Noah was one person, the only God-fearing person, in the middle of an evil and fallen world. Yet, God was still watching over Noah and planned his survival. Meanwhile, though Noah's life was going to be spared, was he living a wonderful life? No, he wasn't. People mocked and insulted him while he built the ark. I'm sure they tried to entice him into giving up his crazy notion of building a huge boat on dry land. Some may have hated him, because he made them feel "dirty" because of their sins. Jesus told His followers, "You will be hated by everyone because of Me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved" (Matthew 10:22). Noah kept on being obedient and ended up being saved, he and his family, from the flood. God was with Noah. He is with us, too. God never promised us an earthly kingdom; He promised a Heavenly reward to those who endured. Jesus' words could have been a gut-punch to many; I mean, who wants to be hated? But, He also said, "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Noah "took heart." Lord, strengthen us to "take heart" when life takes us into the darkest valley.

Siri-less Valleys

"Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth"- Luke 3:5 (NIV).

I used to be the map reader in my family. The map was essential to get us to our destination, since I have no sense of direction. Then technology gave us Siri and "maps" became an app on my phone, not one I struggled folding up, usually stuffing in the glove compartment of the car. Metaphorically speaking, maps, nor Siri, will get us through the valleys of our life: the trials and tribulations we all go through. The valleys of life are not enjoyable routes to take and there are no alternate routes. You either go on or stop. To stay, means wandering through more of the same and feeling defeated. To go on, means there is eventual deliverance from the valley ahead. We have something better than a map or Siri for life's valleys, we have a Reference (the Bible), plus a personal Guide (the Holy Spirit). Thank God we are not left to our own resources. Today's Scripture promises our valleys are only temporary; there will be a day when valleys will no longer exist. Until then, God meets us in each valley of struggle, and there will be many, and carries us through. King David was in the midst of one of his valleys when he wrote: "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4 ). On your journey through your current valley, or the next to come, if you see stragglers wandering around lost in their valley, offer to tell them about your Reference and Guide. We are promised to be God-led during our Siri-less valleys. 

Created, Cultivated, and Committed

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made"- John 1:1-3 (NIV).

If you had foreknowledge, would you ever make something you knew would one day end your life? Jesus was present and participated in creation. His hands formed the very hill that would one day be called Golgotha; the hill He knew He would be crucified upon. God in the Flesh was and is in full control of everything in this world and creation continues. There's not a flower that blooms in the meadow that He is unaware of or that escapes His attention. He once made a tree grow, He provided the rain and nourishment to make it strong, knowing that one day the tree would be cut down and made into the cross He would be nailed upon. The same is true of the thorny brier bush that would one day be placed upon his head, a crown of mockery; yes, He formed each sharp thorn that would pierce his skin. He had the power to create anything He wanted, but He chose to create that which would save His beloved. The  sacrifice was determined from the beginning, created, cultivated, and committed, by the One who would ultimately be the Lamb. Abraham's answer to his son, was prophetic: "God Himself will provide the Lamb" (Genesis 22:8).  

No Baby, I Like Mine Hot!

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of My mouth"- Revelation 3:15-16 (NIV).

There is a scene in the movie "War Room," where an elderly woman asks a younger woman about her church attendance and her prayer life. The younger woman smiles and says she attends church often, that she doesn't pray all the time, but she assured the older woman she knows the Lord. The elderly woman ended up serving the younger woman room-temperature coffee, because that was the condition of the younger woman's spiritual life. The older, wiser, woman told her a person's spiritual condition was either hot or cold, no one likes lukewarm. Today's Scripture confirms that lukewarm is unacceptable to God; a lukewarm spiritual life ends up being spit out of God's mouth. We don't want lukewarm coffee, lukewarm love, lukewarm service, or lukewarm comfort; we wouldn't tolerate such in our life. Should God be happy, then, with lukewarm spirituality from His children? Occasional church attendance, sporadic Bible reading, skimpy prayer life, and the absence of Jesus in our day-to-day life are examples of being lukewarm. The younger woman, after the first sip of her coffee, raised her eyebrows and asked the elderly woman if she liked her coffee lukewarm. The older woman said, "No Baby, I like mine hot!" Examine your spiritual life. Is it hot? Because, God likes it hot!

Intentional Listening

"Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put My trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life"- Psalm 143:8 (NIV).

Sometimes, my prayers, are completely one-sided. I do all the talking. As a young girl, my Girl Scout leader used to plan team building activities for us girls. Trying to build trust, we would rearrange a room of furniture, add a few obstacles, blindfold a girl, who hadn't been part of the stage setup, and then have a fellow scout lead her through the obstacle course using only her voice. The blindfolded scout had to intently listen, little talking, and move slowly. It wasn't designed to see who could get through the obstacle course the fastest, it was all about relational building and strengthening. We learned to listen and trust the voice, did only what the voice said, and we made it across the room. Our lives sometimes feel like that rearranged room. We have to cross unknown terrain and we're just not equipped for the journey. We can't be one-sided in our prayers, or impatient; because, hurrying is not wise, nor the most pain free course of action. We need guidance, which only comes through praying and listening intently for God's voice, then applying His directions. We overcome obstacles when we trust His unfailing love and entrust Him with our lives. It is at our most challenging moments that we need to make a choice: intentional listening or turning a deaf ear.