Forthright Fixation

[Please feel free to comment and tell us about your truthfest! We’d love to hear what God is doing in each of your lives!]

Debbie:

This week, though working has left me short on sleep, God has been blessing me with peace through my job, my family, and even my anxieties.

Hännah:

When I’m most aware of my own depravity, I become more aware of God’s grace and more enamoured of Him. This week, He revealed my selfishness and pride over and over again, but also revealed His goodness to me all the more through this. I’m so thankful for His kindness in revealing Himself to me through that!

Kaitlin:

Over the last week and a half, God used the visit of my very special friend, Katie Marie, to challenge me in my walk with the Lord, convict me of my wretched sin, and refresh my soul with her friendship and the fellowship that we shared.

Kate:

During a small group meeting tonight God reminded me through 1 Corinthians 15 of the truth that this life isn’t the end, but we have hope because of the resurrection (both Christ’s, which is the power of the Gospel, and ours, which means we spend eternity with Him!) Reading chapter 15 was such an encouraging reminder that “[our] labor is not in vain” here on this earth.

Katie Marie:

This morning God has met me by challenging me to dig deeper into His Word. He is showing me that even when I don’t fully understand the meaning of all that’s written in scripture, His truth will stand forever.

Kelsey:

Since I’ve been home from school, God has been using my friends to remind me of the truths that I hold to and encouraging me on toward righteousness.

Riette:

God has given me much grace this week as I’ve had two friends in particularly needy situations. I’ve been able to share God’s truth with them and encourage them without feeling like I was pouring myself out; God was speaking through me.

Stephanie:

“He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” Psalm 40:2 NIV

After several weeks of “mud and mire”, God met me at my absolute weakest point, and no sooner. Through the prayers of dear sisters, God lifted a very heavy burden, told me again how deeply He loves me, and that He’s not through with me yet. He is my joy, my Rock, and my Salvation!

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Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.

And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. And Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the house of the Lord.” Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king.

When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”

2 Kings 22: 1-2, 8-13

Why is the story of Josiah worth considering? The answer: Josiah exemplifies a right response to the Word of God.

Such an example puts me to shame. To me, the Word of God is often simply an old leather-bound volume lying in the drawer next to my bed, accessible when I feel like reading it and ignorable when I don’t. But to Josiah, the Word was altogether more valuable.

Upon hearing the words of God, Josiah could have chosen simply to shrug and have it stored for later reference. Yet instead, Josiah responded to the Word of God as an authority. Though the words were printed and read, Josiah responded as if God Himself had physically spoken specifically to Josiah and the people of Jerusalem.

My attitude towards God’s Word is revealed by the way I respond to it.

If God decided to speak to me literally, verbally, I have no doubt that my response would be far more radical than my habitual response to the Word. The Scriptures take on an entirely new profound dimension when I realize that Scripture is God condescending to speak to me.

God demands a serious, humble attitude towards His Word. In Psalm 119 (verses 4-5) the Psalmist writes, “You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statues!”

A right response means saying, “Where Your words disagree with the way I am living, I will change.” A right response means going to the Word of God not so that it can affirm the way I am living, but so that it will reform the way I am living.

A right response to God’s Word also means diligent study. Neglecting to study the Word is the equivalent of ignoring the fact that God has something to say about the way I live. The Psalmist in Psalm 119 (verse 6) continues saying, “Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.”

How wonderful that God has given us free access to His Word (something that past generations, and those in hostile nations have known to be a gift worth dying for). The Bible is God’s glorious gift to us! He didn’t have to speak. But in His grace, He has given us words that are “all that we need for life and godliness”.What grace!

Even more gloriously, the story of Josiah didn’t end in verse 13. God rewards those who respond rightly to His Word. At the end of the passage, God speaks the following to Josiah,

“Regarding the words that you have heard, because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the Lord, when you heard how I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you declares the Lord.’” (2 Kings 22:18-19)

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[As a note, I was inspired to read the story of Josiah by a message by Joshua Harris that can be accessed here. I highly recommend it.]

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Times will come in the life of the Christian where God seems far, dedication is difficult, and growth seems non-existent. It would seem that college has a way of making conditions perfect for this sort of stagnation.

After completing my freshman year, I can say that maintaining faith through college requires deliberate action. Through neglect, if it were not for the grace of God, it would be far too easy to turn from all that one has held. On most occasions, the trials to our faith are not threats to destroy it but seasons in, as it were, a dry land. In these times excitement for the faith is lost and God seems to be very far off. I have been considering this issue over the last few weeks as I have felt negligent in my personal devotion to Christ. Over this time the Lord has brought to mind truths that would seem to be part of the answer to reviving the soul from the drought of Spiritual water. These truths have come from sermons in two different churches and my own time in the Word.

It is first necessary to repent. Repentance is, of course, always necessary in our walk with God. Yet, in the times when we are feeling distant from God there are usually points where we have neglected to do our duty. If, because of our sin, we cannot hear the voice of God, it does not mean that he has stopped speaking only that we have made ourselves deaf to his voice. The proper response is repentance.

The next requisite is desire. A Christian cannot hope to grow in his walk if he does not daily desire the Lord and his Word. The desire for the Lord is one of the marks of a Christian. We cannot taste the waters of Christ until we thirst. “‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.’” (John 7:37, ESV) Only when the Christian’s need is real to himself can he come to Christ for the remedy. Clearly, a desire for the Lord is not something that can come by one’s own strength. It is through grace that he is granted this desire. In our times of weakness and distance let us pray that God would grant to us a desire for the Lord, his Word, and closeness with him.

Third, consistent time in prayer and the Bible is needed. This can be extremely hard and is often the key element that is missing when going through a dry season. Yet, it is the means of grace in all seasons. The Christian must not neglect the sword of the Spirit, the belt of truth, the shield of faith, or the breastplate of righteousness in the fight against dryness. He must be “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” (Ephesians 6:18, ESV)

Along the same lines, the fourth step is to be willing to sacrifice that which pulls you away from Christ. The strengthening of faith doesn’t happen accidentally. It requires deliberate effort on the part of the believer. This applies to time spent in personal devotion. It also is necessary to be deliberate in laying aside that which hinders (Hebrews 12:1-2). What is keeping you from seeking Christ, from desiring him, from longing for his living water? (The busyness of life, the people surrounding you, a relationship?) It may even be necessary to assess what small things are distracting you from seeking him with your whole heart. In my struggle I had to consider what I was meditating on. (The music I was listening to, the conversations I engaged in, the things I considered important.) The Christian must consider what is drawing him closer to Christ and what needs to be sacrificed for the sake of his faith.

Finally, and of great importance, the Christian must assume victory. The fight of faith is not in human hands. The Lord has called his children to himself and not one of them will be lost. If you are elect of Christ you can be assured that he will never leave you and you will never wander beyond return. If a Christian is struggling with his lack of faith or the feeling of being distant from God, he must recognize that it is a time of growth. If one feels that he is right before God and is content with the present relationship, there will be no growth. Through you may feel empty before Christ, that recognition is an invitation for the grace of Christ to fill you to overflowing.

The Christian will face times of emptiness. Yet, if he remains faithful to Christ, confesses his sin, and desires God, he will be filled abundantly and will be made stronger in the end.

“As the hart longs for flowing streams, So longs my soul for Thee, O God. My soul does thirst for the Living God; When shall I come to see Thy face?

My tears have fed me day and night, While men have said, “Where is your God?” But I recall as my soul pours dry, The days of praise within Thy house.

Why do I mourn and toil within, When it is mine to hope in God? I shall again sing praise to Him; He is my help, He is my God”
(As the Hart Longs for Flowing Streams, Trinity Hymnal 662)

Filed under: Christian Living, Faith, Prayer, Weakness | 3 Comments »

Thanks, Hännah, for these honest, provoking words that turn our gaze to the Savior.

You know the sort of day—when you wake up in a funk and can’t shake the overwhelming power of your own selfishness, and the very last thing you want to do is to humble yourself and meet with the Lord. You’re tired, cranky, and would be just so happy if you manage to get through today. But as the day progresses, you begin to feel more and more helpless. You can’t hold it together…and you can’t figure out why. At every turn you’re met by more and more proof of your frailty and depravity. Everything’s going wrong, and it’s all rooted deep in the very nature of who you are.

I’m faced by this all the time. Sin, as a friend commented the other day, “rears its ugly head” and bares its teeth in the face of my desire to be humble and seek the Lord as the one delight of my heart. By my very nature, though, that would be quite impossible. I can’t even begin to desire God unless He changes my heart. I can’t begin to obey Him and love Him unless He changes my heart. I can’t walk in His ways unless He changes my heart.

What’s amazing to me is that as nasty as I am, He still pursues me each day and wants my heart to be wholly His. Some heart—it’s encrusted with sin and filth and utterly in rebellion to Him. But He glories in making rebels His children and in adopting them—us!—into His love. I don’t deserve it. I can’t even want it on my own. But He sees my frail, sick soul, and becomes my strength, my light, my Father. He died that I might live. How astounding is that?

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:6-11, ESV)

By this love and this Lord, we have more than we need to get through these days and worse, too. He is more than sufficient and more than good to us. Words cannot begin to express the depth and richness of who He is.

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Last weekend as mentioned in last Friday’s post, a couple of us girls were at a conference called New Attitude., along with 3200 other young adults from across the country. There’s so much I’d like to share but one thing that was highly encouraged throughout the conference was the practice of memorizing scripture. They had a pastor come up and recite Psalm 19. It was SO powerful to hear him share the Word with us, from memory.

Monday night Dr. John Piper, gave a message called “Fighting for Faith with God’s Word” in which he spent the entire second half of the message to showing us how to apply God’s Word to our daily life/struggles in order to fight for faith and joy. Dr. Piper is such a great example of someone who memorizes Scripture. He quoted Scripture after Scripture, not just reciting, but finding joy in speaking God’s Word. He did this with such passion! I was challenged and encouraged as I sat there listening to Dr. Piper. This man has lived his life for the Gospel. He has used God’s Word in every-day-life, struggles, preaching, encouraging others, etc. In a recent article titled Why Memorize Scripture? he highlighted 6 main reasons why we ought to memorize Scripture.

1) Conformity to Christ
2) Daily Triumph over Sin
3) Daily Triumph over Satan
4) Comfort and Counsel for People You Love
5) Communicating the Gospel to
6) Communion with God in the Enjoyment of His Person and Ways

I would highly encourage you all to take 10 minutes and read the entire article. With that I pray that you too would be challenged as I was.

My desire is to be a better steward of God’s Word. I want to know Scripture, not just be able to paraphrase bits here and there, but I’d like to be able to use the Word regularly. I want to study God’s Word intently and not just skim over it to be able to check if off my list. I want to use God’s Word to fight my sin, encourage others, share with unbelievers, but most importantly I want to memorize God’s Word forConformity to Christ.

One last thing. I’ve often times heard the analogy of comparing reading v. studying God’s Word to a speed boat v. a geared up diver in the ocean. When we read God’s Word we are like the speed boat, rushing to make it across the water with very minimal observation of what is in the water. When we study God’s Word we are like divers in the ocean, having a clearer view of what is in there; being in awe of the contents that is so easily missed when speeding across.Let’s be divers and search deep into God’s Word; studying it, memorizing it, consuming it!

“Your words were found, and I ate themand your words became to me a joyand the delight of my heart” - Jeremiah 15:16a (ESV)

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“May God arise, may his enemies be scattered;
may his foes flee before him.

As smoke is blown away by the wind,
may you blow them away;
as wax melts before the fire,
may the wicked perish before God.

When you went out before your people, O God,
when you marched through the wasteland,

the earth shook,
the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.”

(Pslam 68: 1, 2, 7, & 8, NIV)

~

My ancestors were enemies of God’s Chosen People.

Were yours? Let that sink in.

I tend to have such a New Testament train of thought. Like the song lyrics, to that children’s classic… ”Red and yellow, black and white/they are precious in His sight…” But, in reality, in Old Testament times, I (being a Gentile) very likely would have been estranged from God’s people. Estranged from God.

And when I think of that mind blowing situation, this passage never fails to come to mind:

“He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

(John 1:11-13)

I grin now, just reading it over. God sent Jesus; He was the mediator between Man and God. For poor, insignificant Man. For not only His first, chosen people, but for all peoples. For anyone who heard and believed. For me. And this fact, this realization, is enough to make me fall into love with my Saviour whenever I ponder it.

“Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth…remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.”
(Ephesians 2:11a-13)

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Kate

At New Attitude, the Lord began showing me that one of the primary reasons I need to be in the Word is that I am part of the future of the church (both global, and local). Eric Simmons asked the question, “Am I simply living for what I have to do next?” and I have to confess that this is often my tendency. I frequently have a very short-sighted view of the future that precludes having a vision for God’s larger mission in the body. This concept of being part of the “next generation” of the church, if you will, impressed on me the importance of being rooted in God’s Word. Those I look up to as strong in the faith and well versed in the scriptures (people like pastors, and even my parents) won’t be around forever to train up others, so I need to start taking this responsibility seriously in order to be prepared for the work God has called and will call me to do.

Katie Marie

Who made me to know You, but You
When dead in sin You gave me new life
Now my heart is filled with love for You, Jesus

Father, thank You for Your Spirit’s work in me
For opening my eyes to the Christ of Calvary
Jesus, You gave Your life in exchange for mine
Now I will live for You who died, Jesus

You placed a crown of grace on my head
You covered me in robes of righteousness
Forever I will always be Yours, Jesus

Who Made Me to Know You but You , Valley of Vision

Kelsey

Not what my hands have done can save my guilty soul;
Not what my toiling flesh has borne can make my spirit whole.
Not what I feel or do can give me peace with God;
Not all my prayers and sighs and tears can bear my awful load.

Your voice alone, O Lord, can speak to me of grace;
Your power alone, O Son of God, can all my sin erase.
No other work but Yours, no other blood will do;
No strength but that which is divine can bear me safely through.

Not What My Hands Have Done, Horatius Bonar

Riëtte

Now for His love I bear His name
My former pride I call my shame
What was my gain I count my loss
And I nail my glory to His cross

Nail My Glory by Devon and Bob Kauflin

Stephanie

God’s Word meets us right where we are. I was encouraged when Josh Harris said that during the first session of New Attitude. So often I feel I must muster a certain amount of faith or enthusiasm when I sit down to read the Word in order for God to really meet me. But He only wants me to come humbly, saying sincerely, “Lord, I just want to hear you”. Even in my driest spiritual states I, like Jeremiah, can still “eat” God’s words and He will cause them to be a “joy and the delight of my heart”.

Debbie Jane

God has stayed close to be this week- convicting me, blessing me, and showing me how good He’s been to me during my last 6 years living in Richmond.

Hännah

This past week has been challenging in that I have not desired to be as close to the Lord as I ought, and I was encouraged greatly by John Piper’s message at New Attitude about fighting for faith and fighting for joy in the Word. Even when I don’t desire Christ or treasure Him, He is near me and I must fight my laziness and self-sufficiency - and He has proved true and met me when I obeyed that call to fight for joy in Him, and those times with Him that I had to fight for this week were truly some of the richest I’ve had in a long time.

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Recently I’ve been reflecting on the concept of spending time with God, particularly within the context of regular quiet times in the morning (or evening, if you prefer). I’ll confess, this is an area in which I’ve seen a need for growth for quite awhile. I’ve experienced firsthand the desire (and even determination) to spend time with the Lord after a rich time of teaching, worship, and fellowship on a Sunday, yet when 6am Monday morning comes around, I’ve decided instead that an extra hour of sleep would feel much better than getting up to meet with Him.

Such patterns only left me wondering, “Do I really value time with God on a heart level?” Beyond that, if I don’t have a heart-level desire for God in terms of sacrificing a bit of sleep in the morning in order to spend time with Him, how do I increase that desire?

To answer both of those questions, the starting point ought to be a consideration of the purpose behind spending time with the Lord, and then the attitude with which we should approach this discipline.

“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 lift up my soul.” Psalm 143:8 (NIV)

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love…”

Even when I am not diligent to spend time with the Lord, I can’t help but still notice the effects of having less time with Him in my day. My mom likes to use the analogy of gearing up for battle with sin and the lies of the world when we spend time with the Lord in the mornings. Otherwise—she contrasts—we’re headed into the battle in flip-flops and armed with a pool noodle!

And it’s true! Without arming myself with truth, I feel unprepared to face the day. Psalm 143:8 puts its finger on one of the primary truths we need to remind ourselves of: His unfailing love. Though a very simple truth, and easy to take for granted, being reminded of His love for us is a sustaining part of our armor for each day.

“…for I have put my trust in you.”

Spending time reading the word of God, praying, and crying out to Him for help in the morning is a humble acknowledgment of weakness. Why do I need to hear from Him each day? Because He is the one in which I need to put my trust. When I wake up, I naturally begin the day trusting myself. When I take time to dwell on truth, however, I recognize my need for the Lord, and I’m filled with fresh faith for the day.

“Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.”

Here the psalmist recognizes his need for God’s direction, and his dependence upon God. More than that, he lifts up his soul to God. How often do I do that? How often do I find Christ so valuable, so sufficient, and his love so deep that I say “to you, Lord, I lift up my soul”?

At New Attitude 2008, pastor Eric Simmons spoke on the topic of loving the Word of God. In his message he observed that “our love for the Bible is directly proportional to our love for Christ”. This strikes at the root of my second question, “How do I increase my desire for the word?” The answer comes in valuing Christ more highly. When I value Christ as supreme, I will value His words! Eric continued to challenge us with this statement: When I have no passion or vision for the Bible, I need to repent of putting something above it.

What am I putting above the Word of God? What am I putting above time with God? What am I putting above God Himself?

Our answers may vary, but when we consider the practice of going to the Word every day as set forth in Psalm 143, let us begin to pray for increased passion for God and His Word. Let us repent of putting something above Christ, and ask God for a re-prioritization to take place in our hearts as we seek to grow in godliness.

“Hear my prayer, O Lord;
give ear to my pleas for mercy!
In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!”

(Psalm 143:1)

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if we trekked to Louisville, KY for Na,
then we are back after encountering the Lord.

After a[nother] long night’s sleep, we’ll have a fresh post up tomorrow!

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Debbie:

“There are times when the one thing you want is the one thing you never get…You pray and wait.No answer.You pray and wait.May I ask a very important question? What if God says no?What if the request is delayed or even denied? When God says no to you, how will you respond? If God says ‘I’ve given you my grace, and that is enough,’ will you be content?Content. That’s the word. A state of heart in which you would be at peace if God gave you nothing more than he already has.”[Max Lucado, from “In The Grip of Grace”]

Hännah:

“But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.”  - Romans 6:17-19 (ESV)

Kaitlin:

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.”“But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.”  - Psalm 73:25, 28 (ESV)

Kate:This week I’ve begun reading John Piper’s When I Don’t Desire God, and in it I came across this quote by Augustine exalting the way God replaces the fruitless longings of my heart with sweet satisfaction in Him.

“How sweet all at once it was for me to be rid of those fruitless joys which I had once feared to lose…! You drove them from me, you who are the true, the sovereign joy. You drove them all from me and took their place, you who are sweeter than all pleasure, though not to flesh and blood, you who outshine all light, yet are hidden deeper than any secret in our hearts, you who surpass all honor, though not in the eyes of men who see all honor in themselves….O Lord my God, my Light, my Wealth, and my Salvation.”

Kelsey:

“One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” - Psalm 27:4 (NIV)

Riette:

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” - 1 Peter 1:13-16 (ESV)

Stephanie:

“But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one…. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.” - 2 Thessalonians 3:3,5 (NIV)

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