journey onWord with us

Last Wednesday, I did a Mike (code in our family for making a mistake).  My appointment was about forty-five minutes from my office in the middle of rural America.  Although my last journey to this particular location was five years ago, I knew the way (famous last words).  To make a long story short, I went at least twenty miles out of the way simply because I didn’t use my GPS.  To make matters worse, I passed by the correct exit three times before finally arriving at my destination.  IF ONLY I WOULD HAVE FOLLOWED THE DIRECTIONS!  Yesterday while doing some reading, my eyes zeroed in on a verse that reminded me of following directions.

Psalm 119:5 (NLT)
Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees!

At the very beginning of the longest chapter in the Bible, we find these penetrating words.  To be honest, they jumped off the page at me.  Why?  Because I so often find that my actions are in violation of the decrees I speak about, write about, and try to live by!  Without a doubt, I believe that the word “decrees” in the above passage is a synonym for God’s Word.  The Psalmist is conveying long-term endurance in obeying the Word of God.  I can easily sense the Psalmist’s desire from the words “… consistently reflect your decrees.”  The problem with this verse for me, and I am sure for you also, is the word “actions.” Intellectual assent to obeying God’s decrees is one thing, but living a life where actions consistently reflect His decrees is another thing altogether.  In Christian America, we too often agree with His Word, quote the principles, memorize the verses, but stop short of personally internalizing the truths.  Therefore, you often find it hard to distinguish Christ–followers from just good people.

If you are like me, you’ve got the basics down of good Christian living. I talk about the principles of God’s Word daily, and even write about them, but if I am not careful I violate the very principles that I passionately convey to others.  Now to be honest, I am not talking about denying the Word or turning away from it in rebellion.  My thoughts on this verse for you and me are more of a subtle knowing (intellectually), but not doing (actions).

My wife would have never gotten lost last Wednesday.  She would have followed the GPS above all else, and not taken for granted that she could find her own way.   The contrast between her logic and mine is exactly the conflict we see in following the decrees of God’s Word.  If you want to do a Mike, then just live life, agree with the principles and struggle needlessly.  Following the directions (letting my actions consistently reflect Your decrees) won’t remove all the obstacles from life, but it will provide a guide to navigate them.

If you are a Christ-follower, there’s probably agreement with every sentence of this article.  But to make the concepts real to you, permit me to share a few statements that are action oriented. They deal directly with a life of faith and God’s decrees.  While reviewing these words, if you sense that there is a contrast between your actions and His Word, be honest and admit it. He already knows you are struggling!

…trust Him in every circumstance
…forgive others when they hurt you
…worry is wrong, it’s sin
…pray without ceasing
…walk by faith, not by sight
…in everything give thanks

My point is not perfection … that’s Heaven!  But if you desire a life where your actions would consistently reflect His decrees, know it is possible.  The six statements above are a good place to start seeking consistent obedience.  Please know that they are not manufactured, however.  Grow in His Word, yield to His Spirit, and determine that by faith you will see victory (not perfection) in these areas.  So the choice is clear: Do a Mike, or follow His Decrees!

Quiet down before God, be prayerful before Him.

Those words taken from Psalms 37:7 in The Message sum up the journey, and struggle, that I have faced this week. In an effort to practice embracing God in each moment (after all I did write about it), I have been keenly aware of my desire vs. my struggle. It only makes sense to me that every Christ-follower would want to live with a quiet center and prayerful heart. Why is it then that so few live with ears in tune to what the Lord is trying to convey? My personal conviction is that the quiet center available to us is filled with noise (I battle the noise, do you?). We can all find excuses for the noisy and distracted lives that we lead, but when the noise and distractions cause us to miss what God is saying, no excuse is good enough. Is your heart quiet and prayerful this week?

My personal reading has taken me to a book called Thirsting for God by Gary Thomas. Really thirsting after God will cause redirection in anyone’s life. I find that seeking the Father slows me down internally, and fuels the desire for that quiet center. See if the following quote from Thomas’ book resonates with where your journey is currently.

Living a busy life is like running a marathon—we tax our ability to care, our ability to focus, our strength to manage disappointment, our sense of peace and rest. Consequently, we live on the edge of exhaustion, irritation and anger. We have to re-gather ourselves, guard our peace, and focus so we will be free to care about the things that really matter and fully give ourselves to the tasks God calls us to address.

Could those words be spoken of you? If so, you have felt that guilty tug when someone needs your assistance but there is little energy or emotional reserves to help. We are all human and subject to seasons that are extremely busy and taxing. But to live with noise, distractions and chaotic schedules that limit our listening to God and hinder our walk with Him is unacceptable. You and I can quiet down and be prayerful before Him.

In the book, Thirsting for God, there is another penetrating and very convicting statement that we all need to hear.

The spiritual life is impossible in a heart full of noise and occupation.

Our lives become more about fitting God in, and less about living life from that quiet center. The noise around us does not have to invade us.

Countless times, I have read of Jesus getting away and praying. Luke says: But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. I can imagine that those were special moments and times of refreshment. I need exactly that in my life. But oh how the distractions and noise become addictive. For me, it’s a choice: will I or won’t I live with a quiet heart, and seek to embrace God in each moment? How about you? There can be no greater indication of our need to fight the noise and distractions than looking at Christ’s pattern. He needed to get away from the crowds, and He needed to pray. None of us can claim lives with more noise and chaos than the Son of God. But listening to the Father was obviously important to Him. Could it be any less important for us?  I believe a quiet center is available to me; do you?

My goal in this post is not to instruct, but to relate. My selfishness often drowns out the voice I most want to hear. Recently I have been challenged to grow quieter, and embrace Him in each moment. Progress is slow, but I’m determined to have what is available to me. For me it starts in my time with the Father. But then there has to be a conscious choice all day long to slow down, relax and be a listener. I want to hear what He has to say. Your noise and distractions are probably different from mine, but you have them. Are you working from a quiet center, or just fitting God into your schedule (easy to do)?  My thoughts in writing this were skeptical – that no one would really take the challenge. But if there is one person reading this that is ready for a quiet center (and I hope it’s you), I am praying for you!

Celebrations mean different things to different people.  My father-in-law was a decorated war veteran, having received a silver star with oak leaf cluster, a purple heart and five bronze stars.  He was a true war hero.  He knew what it took to put his life on the line for his country.  When Memorial Day would come each year he really understood its significance.  Having never served in the military, I can easily look at this special day as just a holiday and miss its significance.

Last Friday evening, my wife and I were with some friends for dinner.  Before giving thanks for the meal, the host said he was wearing a red shirt in honor of all those who had given their lives for our freedom.  It caused me to pause because of his sensitivity to what I was looking at as just a holiday weekend.  He got the significance of the price that bought our freedom.  Later that night the same gentleman read an email detailing the incredible devotion of the men and women who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  Today, our President will lay a wreath at that very tomb.  The email detailed the unyielding commitment of those who guard that tomb every hour, 365 days a year.  Those who guard the tomb willingly give up personal comfort to live with discipline, precision and self- sacrifice for a cause they regard as greater than themselves.  Without a doubt, they understand the significance that provides all of us freedom on this Memorial Day.  The creed that these dedicated men and women live by is below; What Devotion!  It’s called The Sentinels Creed:

My dedication to this sacred duty is total and wholehearted.  In the responsibility bestowed on me never will I falter.  And with dignity and perseverance my standard will remain perfection.  Through the years of diligence and praise and the discomfort of the elements, I will walk my tour in humble reverence to the best of my ability.  It is he who commands the respect I protect.  His bravery that made us so proud.  Surrounded by well-meaning crowds by day alone in the thoughtful peace of night, this soldier will in honored glory rest under my eternal vigilance.  –Simon 1971

To give you a picture of their dedication, I want to share with you what happened in 2004 as reported by ABC news.  Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington, DC.  Because of the impending danger from the storm, the military members assigned guard duty at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend their assignment.  They respectfully declined saying, “No way, Sir!”  Soaked to the skin and marching through a terrific storm, these soldiers said that guarding the Tomb was not just an assignment, but the highest honor afforded a service person. They understood the significance of what bought our freedom.

Remembering my father-in-law’s sacrifice, listening to my friend’s sensitivity and learning the dedication of those guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has changed this Memorial Day for me.  I will not let its significance pass me by this year.  What about you?  Flags will fly, parades will take place, and a wreath will be placed at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier representing to all of us the price of our freedom.  It will be a significant day!

There is another tomb that we should honor today … an empty one.  All Christ-followers are soldiers who were given freedom by the Savior who rose from that Tomb.  Can it be said of you and me that our dedication matches that of the Sentinels Creed?  The day Christ arose was truly SIGNIFICANT!

Do you ever feel like life is a cycle of one confusing event after another? There is so much that happens, and we all wonder “why?” On this side of eternity there are so many un-answered questions. Often there is a sense of feeling disobedient or “unspiritual” if we think or voice honest questions about the tough issues we face. But believe me, God can handle our questions and desires our honesty. Look with me at a few confusing examples that will resonate with all of us.

• I prayed so hard about it, but things still didn’t turn out well.

• Why did such a godly person pass away so young?

• Why do some of the people I love have so much pain? It seems so unfair.

• Parents walk with God in front of their children, only to raise adult children with little spiritual interest.

In your silent moments, some of those very thoughts may have passed through your mind. A godly relative of mine once said to me, “faith is great … after the fact”. Even though I gave him a good spiritual lecture, I am not naïve to the fact that most of us have encountered similar feelings. So how do we balance our confidence in the sovereignty and sufficiency of our Lord with the constant messages of life that attack our faith? We must choose to live by trusting in the absolute truth of God’s Word, and the power of its Author. Agreeing with the Word intellectually may be a given in your life, but battles still rage in the practice of it’s truth.

In his great work, My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers gives insight into the confusion(s) of life. He said, “You cannot think through spiritual confusion to make things clear; to make things clear, you must obey.” Isn’t it true that in our quest to make sense of this life, we far too often use our own reasoning to make it all fit? Unfortunately for us, even our best reasoning falls short in the simplest quandaries of life. If that’s not enough, our human logic struggles to ever make sense of the bigger questions like why some get cancer, and why the wicked strike it rich. Our best choice is to follow the logic of Oswald Chambers. Obeying the truth of Scripture and the prompting of His Spirit will help make the confusions of life clearer. Clarity will come in gaining His perspective, and not by having all of our questions answered.

You have your tough issues, and I have mine. Pull no punches with God; cry out to Him! There is no one more acquainted with your grief. Then accept that He will choose what He wants to reveal to us. He is God! … and we are not.

It is not His design to answer all of our questions on this side of eternity, but He has given us His Word, and His promise of peace. If you are a Christ-follower, don’t worry about what you can’t figure out or fix. Just obey what you know to be true, and submit your confusion to Him.

Psalm 55:22 (NLT)
Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

Yesterday was a remarkably beautiful day. My actions, however, were often less than remarkable.  I have chosen to share some of the moments of my Saturday, not because they would interest you, but because they may reflect you.  My goal is always to encourage those who read our articles, and sometimes that encouragement can be drawn from relating to my weaknesses, and understanding how to apply the principles of life that you know God would choose for you.  So as you read the following words, apply your life to mine and accept what the Father will say through them.

I was able to play golf in the morning with some friends.  They are serious about golf, and I am always thankful for the opportunity to play with them.  During the first five holes, my ball mysteriously found the woods, the water, and out-of-bounds.  When my third shot on the fifth hole found high grass under tree limbs, I was no longer enjoying the companionship of my friends.  How could I possibly have made such a mess out of a beautiful Saturday morning?  As I slugged my way through the front nine, my mind went to a principle that has recently impacted my life.  It came from Joyce Meyer’s book, Power Thoughts. Since I was in need of some good thoughts, I chose to start saying the principle in my mind before each shot.  The words, “I will live in the present and enjoy each moment”, had a definite effect on the rest of my round of golf.  Over the last few weeks, I had meditated on those words countless times.  I had even badgered and cajoled others to do the same.  But it was on a beautiful Saturday during a horrible round of golf that I began to apply them.  And make no mistake, I believe the Father is pleased when you and I will live in the present and enjoy each moment.  Are you practicing this kind of living?

Then I went home and sinned.  Can you believe I would find another way to not enjoy a beautiful day? Thank goodness there was quick recovery.  We were with my mother-in-law (early afternoon), and my wife suggested that we all go out to dinner.  What? I thought my wife and I had plans to do something else, and I got selfish and gave the old silent attitude about what she suggested.  My wife noticed my discontent, but responded with grace.  As soon as we got home, I was convicted about my less than remarkable attitude.  You can call it what you want, but I was selfish and sinned against my wife.  Far greater was the sin against God.  I was reminded again this week in my study of King David’s life that relational sin is also sin against my Father.  I confessed my wrong to my wife and the Lord. Remember, if we confess our sins with a sincere heart, forgiveness comes.  Are you keeping the slate clean with others, and most importantly God?

Off to dinner we go (with a renewed attitude)!  It was a great outdoor restaurant that we all love. And then we get our all-time worst service.   A young, overwhelmed waiter completely forgot that he was serving us (it took 30 minutes to receive our drinks).  You would think that by this time on a beautiful Saturday afternoon I would remember to live in the present and enjoy each moment.  But I was hungry, wanted my iced tea and I can’t stand horrible service (guess I’ve never made a mistake).  And then I remember that line again.  I was beginning to hate my own advice (not really), but in truth the words I will live in the present and enjoy each moment became clear again.  The food was great; we tipped the waiter and laughed all the way home.  But oh how I want to just live wisely, without having to be reminded.  How about you?

You may not struggle like me. Maybe you don’t even play golf!  However, there is something within me that believes you relate.  You may even be at a point (while reading this article) of needing to grab the present and live with enjoyment.  And there could be some fences you need to mend relationally.  And remember, if you have sinned against others, you have sinned against God.  Confess and move on!  By the way, when we dropped off my eighty-nine year old mother-in-law (who has only one daughter, is a widow and has virtually no social life),  she commented on what a nice time she had with us.  I guess the day ended remarkably, and I learned again how to make it beautiful.

Last week I had the opportunity to play in a charity golf outing that raised funds for a Christian School. One of our team members was a great golfer, and you could say he intimidated me. I am really fond of golf. My teammate is passionate about golf (and that’s why he is so good). My wife and I are fond of walking on long trails, but not passionate enough to do it regularly. You are probably no different. There are things you are fond of that don’t reach the level of passion. It’s probably fair to say that Christian America has a fondness for God, but not the passion to sacrifice their comfort for His cause. A logical question for all of us is; “would a greater passion for God bring a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment in my life?” If not, why would He desire it of us?

It is easy to read a quote like “each of us is as close to God as we choose to be” (Dr. Oswald Sanders), and give intellectual agreement to it. But if you and I were to give an honest evaluation of our lives in relationship to that quote, what would the results tell us? I wonder if it would really take that much evaluation to root out the truth. We all know how close to God we are choosing to be. If you are a Christ follower, there is no doubt that you love God and can absolutely be used greatly for His cause. Since yesterday ended at midnight, yesterday’s lack of passion is no longer relevant. What is His purpose for you today? Finding spiritual purpose without seeking to know God and drawing close to Him will only lead to frustration. To grow close to God and fulfill His purpose for us, the Word has to play a vital role in each of our lives.

A favorite author of mine, Beth Moore, writes in Believing God …

“An ongoing relationship with God through His Word is essential to the Christian’s consistent victory!”

I don’t know that I have ever met a person whose faith I would want to emulate, that was not a student of the Word. Make no mistake; consistent intake of the heart of God will change you. You will learn His perspective on life, and that insight will shape and reshape you. I am very conscious that many who read our articles have known Christ for many years. But there is a burden in my spirit that American Christianity treats our relationship with God’s Word like I treat my golf game. Far too many errors are made because I just don’t want to put in the time to be the best. But in matters eternal, the stakes are so much higher. Every relationship that you and I have is affected by our relationship to God through His Word.

So if you will choose to be close to God, you must also choose to be close to His Word. We all have to make a decision … fondness or passion? If you desire to consistently have His perspective, start today with a fresh view of the Word and it’s power in your life. Yesterday really did end at midnight, and the Creator of each new day wants you to have His insight. When you gain it, there will be a great sense of purpose and fulfillment.

If you want to grow closer to Christ, and are struggling between fondness and passion, email us. We are here for you, and I promise we will help you!

It has happened to all of us.  We’ve been speaking (maybe even passionately) to someone who, without a doubt, was not listening.  You could tell by their eyes that your words were falling on deaf ears.  Undoubtedly, you have also been on the receiving end of a conversation and had no idea what the speaker was saying.  We can all make excuses for not listening. We were distracted, really tired, in a hurry, the speaker was giving too many details … the list goes on and on. At the core of our poor listening, there is a subtle selfishness — I am more important than you.  Those words may seem harsh, but I truly believe that when the people in our lives speak, they deserve to be heard.  I heard someone say once, “When I speak, all anyone hears is blah, blah, blah!” You, like me, have probably felt that way, and sadly, have also probably listened that way.  Listening can be boiled down to one word … focus!

Writing about this subject without admitting my failures would be inappropriate.  I’m pretty driven and focused on what I have to accomplish at work and in life.  When I am not careful, my agenda will dictate my thinking, and I can easily lose concentration on what others may be saying to me.  I would never want to say it this way, but that is the subtle form of selfishness I mentioned above;  I am more important than you, or my time is too important to stop and listen to you. I am very conscious that I can slip into that mode easily, and so I am very aware of my need to live in the present.  Without much effort you may find that you also become less than a good listener.

In my personal growth journey, recently I ran across some pages that were ripped from an article. They have really helped me frame the way I should listen, and be present with others in a profound way.  If you will take the following words and internalize them, your listening skills will improve, and others will feel that you are really focusing on them and care about their needs.  The words I am quoting were written in the Cedarville TORCH magazine in 2011. They can be attributed to a great author, Dr. Richard Swenson.

The focus of Christ’s ministry was always the person standing in front of Him. The person standing in front of me is an obstacle I ‘m trying to get over, under, around, or through because I’m late for whatever is down the road.  Jesus did not cure every case of leprosy in Israel. If you could just look at it or touch it and heal it, wouldn’t you hold a clinic until 3 a. m. every morning? Wouldn’t you give the disciples only an hour of sleep and keep running from village to village? Jesus didn’t do that; He knew there would be more leprosy tomorrow. How completely contrary that is to my whole mentality.
(boldface added for emphasis)

His focus was always the person standing in front of Him … Hmmm!  Although I don’t have an exact example to give you, I believe with all my heart that Christ dealt with people that way.  It is my opinion that His attention and care was directed toward the needs of those (individually or as a group) who were in front of Him at any moment.   Living with this kind of focus is a rarity in our fast paced, check my cell phone, read my texts, get to the next meeting world.  Therefore we hear half statements, draw wrong conclusions, offend those we love, and selfishly infer – I am more important than you. I’ll say it again. Listening can be boiled down to one word … focus!

A popular mantra in the 1990’s was WWJD (What Would Jesus Do).  I can tell you one thing He would do, because I believe He did it.  He would focus on the person right in front of Him.  So should I, and so should you!  Today, you will stand in front of someone who is speaking to you.  Will your eyes drift, will your hand reach for a phone, or will your mind wander to another place?  You know what Jesus did, and what He wants you to do. Listen with laser focus and show them the care that Christ would have definitely shown you.  I haven’t mastered it yet, but I’m growing.  Grow with me!

Have you ever put an item back on the shelf because you didn’t want to wait in a long check-out line? Maybe you have even raced through a yellow light, rather than stop and wait at an especially long red light. Illustrations are endless of how we seek to avoid “the wait”. It’s not just in the inconvenient, “But, I’m in a hurry” moments when waiting tends to try our patience. Everyone reading this post is likely going through a waiting experience right now. In viewing some Old and New Testament passages recently, I was struck by the number of times that the issue of waiting was referenced. My natural conclusion is that God the Father uses waiting for His purpose in our lives.

Even those who know little of Scripture have heard about the raising of Lazarus from the dead. A careful reading of the events leading up to this miracle is instructive for anyone with a desire to understand the Father’s care. John chapter 11 tells the story. The sisters of Lazarus; Mary and Martha sent word to Christ that their brother was sick. Instead of coming immediately or healing Lazarus from a distance, Christ waited … and his friend died. He came, but not until four days later. The pain of loss was real for both Mary and Martha. They both mentioned to Christ, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”  Was Christ cruel, too busy, insensitive, or did He have a greater plan in mind? God’s design was to raise Lazarus from the dead, use the event in the lives of the witnesses, and teach generations that followed. I wonder if His “waiting room” still has a purpose today. Of course it does!

If you follow the life of David from Scripture, you know that he had his share of struggles. But he also had a deep trust in God’s sovereignty. During some recent reading in the Psalms, I found David giving us counsel on waiting. God is using David to pen the words of His heart for us.

Psalm 27:14
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 37:7
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Logic tells me that most individuals reading this believe in God’s sovereignty for all of life. I am also aware that you may struggle with seeing His control in the midst of your “waiting room” circumstances. Most of us don’t like to wait in lines, or at red lights. Truth be told, we also want answers from God right now! But if we really believe that He is in control (“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28), don’t we also have to accept that our current waiting is part of His design?

I have no way of knowing what kind of “wait” you are experiencing at this moment. But as your friend, let me challenge you to look at this circumstance as an opportunity to “Wait for the Lord”. He knows you, cares for you, wants the best for you, and knows best when to provide the answers you desire. You won’t see Him raise the dead, but you can see Him build your life: Just be still and wait patiently.

I had an interesting experience this weekend.  Mike and I provide the Sunday service at the assisted living facility where I work on the first Sunday of the month – Mike preaches and I play piano.  Unfortunately, Mike had to leave for a business trip Sunday morning and was going to be unable to preach.  Knowing this for a week and a half, I did my best to broker a trade with one of the other preachers … no luck.  I started on the substitutes’ list.  Again, I hit a brick wall.  I was really in a quandary.  Knowing how much these residents count on and enjoy these Sunday services, I was bound and determined I was not going to cancel.  I didn’t want to “preach,” so I tried to think of a way to use my music to present an uplifting and encouraging service to start off their week.  I began to read various hymn histories in search of one to use during the service.  I started with all my favorites, and amongst them I found this one that I shared with them and would like to also share with you.  Here’s the amazing story behind “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”

Joseph Scriven was a man well acquainted with grief.  He was born in Ireland and, as a young man, planned to follow in the footsteps of his father and join the service as a Royal Marine.  Unfortunately, ill-health prevented him from being accepted.  Life continued on, and he fell in love with a lovely young girl with whom he planned on building a life together.  Tragically, she drowned the night before their wedding.

Overcome with grief, Joseph decided to start fresh in Canada.  There he fell in love again and was due to be married, when his second fiancée became ill and died before their nuptials.  In his deep grief, Joseph decided to devote his life to serving others, and he became known for that very quality.

In 1855, at the age of 36, Scriven received word from Ireland that his mother lay dying.  He didn’t have the finances for a trip home, so he sent his mother a letter and a special poem in the hope of comforting her.  The poem was called “Pray Without Ceasing” and began with the words, “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!  What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!”  A friend, sitting with Joseph during an illness, found and later submitted the poem to a Christian journal.  It was published under the title “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” Soon after, Joseph Scriven died.  His poem, however, lived on.

A man by the name of Ira Sankey was the musical director for a simple preacher – maybe you have heard of him – D.L. Moody!  Sankey published the poem, which by that time had been put to music, in a book of hymns and sang it quite often at Moody’s evangelistic meetings.  Soon, the song became one of the best known hymns in America, and missionaries began taking it abroad.  It has remained popular for over 150 years!

A young man, who was well acquainted with grief , was also acquainted with faith.   I was especially touched by the words of the second verse, “We should never be discouraged, Take it to the Lord in prayer.”  How could someone who had experienced the losses that he had, pen such words? Simply stated … through Christ, and Christ alone.  Start your week with these words:

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge,
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you;
you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to
Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there
will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship
will be our sweet portion there.

Words: Joseph Scriven (1857)

What do you fear? In our household, snakes rank high on the fear-o-meter. Over 25 years ago, my wife Genel felt something scratch her foot (in a church parking area).  Once she noticed the fang marks, and after a visit to the hospital very late that night, snakes became number one on her fear-o-meter.  She can get hives from seeing a snake on television. For all of us there is something that causes the pulse to quicken and anxiety to increase.  Sometimes our fears are valid, but very often fear exhibits a lack of trust and must be dealt with. In my recent reading, I came across a verse that should be memorized by every Christ follower.

Psalm 34:4
I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears

Before continuing, I must tell you a humorous but true story of someone overcoming what would have created great fear for many of us. The event happened two Sundays ago at a friend’s church in Florida. As a student pastor was preparing for baptism, he spots a mouse near the baptismal pool … He is getting ready to baptize an 80 year-old woman! Yep, you guessed it … the mouse jumps in the water, and does the backstroke across the pool. As the mouse swims toward the woman, she says; “Is that a fish?” (she didn’t have her glasses on) The man helping her into the water says “No, it’s a mouse!” He reaches to grab the mouse, the woman runs and the mouse bites his hand. Amazingly, the dear woman gets in the water and is baptized. Talk about confronting your fears! What would you have done?!

It may not be snakes or mice, but there is something (maybe many things) that cause most of us to fear. It may be a fear of the future, financial fears, a fear of dying or simply a fear of not being in control. The list of fears that can easily control our lives is too long to list.  Yes, there are legitimate fears that we should take appropriate action on, but far too often confident trust in God is replaced by fear. What a shame! Without a doubt, you (like me) can relate to an area of your life that is a battleground in your mind; will we trust, or will we be afraid?

David was a man after God’s own heart, but was also not perfect.  Fear had obviously been a part of his journey, but the words of Psalm 34:4 give us such a simple way to deal with it.  He prayed and God answered! He was released from all his fears!  Do you believe Scripture is true? I’m sure you do.  Then you believe that God freed David from fear. The problem is, most Christ followers don’t really believe they can overcome the fears that are controlling them.  They are right if they try it in their own power, but He can, and He wants to free you and me from fear’s vice grip. David simply prayed and saw God answer. Could it be that we have conditioned ourselves to accept fear, and are missing God’s release?

As your friend, let me ask an honest question. What is high on your fear-o-meter?  Fearing snakes and mice is normal.  If, however, you are weighted down with a fear that is controlling your life and stealing your joy, release it to the Father. David’s simplicity is profound. He prayed and God answered. What about you?  Why not just pray and trust God to answer. Meditate, memorize and internalize the simple words of Psalm 34:4. They can be life changing for you.

I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.