True Strength

"For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."

It's never been hard for me to confess to Christ that I'm weak.  It's always been easy to say to such a big Creator God that I fall short and that He is strong.  So then why have I recently walked through a season of caring whether people think I'm weak?  I know the truth.  I know in my heart that I am weak, but that in my weaknesses I am made strong in Him.  So why did I feel stuck in this pit?

And it was right in the middle of this wrestle with my weakness and His strength that He was so kind and faithful in bringing my heart back to life to the truth of His word.  He made His word vibrant in my heart again and broke the chains I had allowed to creep around me.

It started at church by someone talking about a scene from "Miracle"—which if you know me well, you know I am slightly obsessed with this movie about the 1980 US Olympic hockey team.  Immediately God got my attention and I found myself pressing in.  The word was about perseverance "again, and again, and again"—if you've seen the movie you know what scene I'm referring to.  And automatically I thought of the challenge of the circumstances I had allowed to plague my thoughts and I knew it was a call to persevere through the struggles, but how when I still felt so exhausted and honestly chained.  And then God spoke again through this scripture:

"On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses.  Though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth.  But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.  So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.  Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.  But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."  2 Corinthians 12:5-9

And in a moment I felt the relief of unwelcome, dense weight lift from me.  I felt free.  Because God spoke to me and said, "It's not that you just have the freedom to boast about your weaknesses to me, but to them.  Being a good steward of my strength is not having it 'together' all the time—or never falling short.  It's simply to allow my strength to show up through your weaknesses."

I thought about the men from the Olympic hockey team and remembered what made it a miracle game was they were a bunch of common men that beat a hockey "super power".  None of them would have felt strong in that moment of skating again, and again, and again—but that's what made the strength of the game so awe inspiring.  It was their weaknesses that allowed the victory to be a miracle.  And God's strength and power to get me through these challenges will only be witnessed as a miracle if others know that it's through my extremely weak and common abilities.  I don't have to be strong all the time to show that my God is strong—He is able and will show His strength.  Even if it's through His children's weaknesses.

I find it funny that in a season that God had been teaching me it’s okay to be weak and boast in it to others, that He was also bringing words to me through others of strength and His power over me.  In Ephesians 6 we are told:

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."

And a more specific word about the sword of the Spirit came, also found in Ephesians 6:

"And take up the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.  To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints..."

God is so good and so kind and so faithful.  He gives us permission to be weak, because we are—but in Him He makes us strong.  He gave me the freedom to not feel the pressure of having it "together" for the world all the time, but He also has spoken over me again and again and again how much strength He is working in and through me. 

I think the main reason I'm writing all of this down is because I forget.  It's amazing how kind God is in the way that He speaks to us personally and brings such freedom in the moment—only to allow yourself to jump into the same discouragement a couple days later.

God's been speaking to me about Mary "treasuring all these things up in her heart", as He has in the past.  I just believe that we need to store, and hoard, and treasure these sweet moments that He gives us.  We need to remember.  As we treasure we dig a deep well that we can draw from whenever we face a challenge. 

God is so good.  Life can be crazy, but He is constant.  He always shows up.  And I want to treasure all of these sweet times with Him.

Open Doors

If He opens a door are you ready to walk through it or will you slam the door as quickly as you can?  A question asked through the teaching this past Sunday. 

Lately God has been speaking to me a lot about evangelism and sharing His good news.  This Sunday we were taught about readiness and a part of that was a readiness to share the gospel. 

I found myself in the Y locker room Monday after school.  My goal was a short, quick run so that I could get on with everything else I had planned that evening.  As I put my belongings in a locker I overheard a high school girl say that she couldn't wait to be older, but it wasn't until her friend responded with this that my heart broke open wide:

"So you can starve yourself for real?  Well not for real, but you know, so you don't have to hide it anymore?"

In the moment I was shocked.  I couldn't believe that these were the kinds of conversations teenage girls were having in a public Y locker room.  Even after all the tender words that God had whispered to me about sharing His good news, after a powerful reminder to walk in readiness to share God's heart for His people, I missed it. 

I walked out of the locker room and went on with my day.  Later I realized I had slammed the door.  God had put me there at that moment to hear those girls with so much shame and hurt and I did nothing. 

We all fall short of the glory of God and I definitely fell short.  Thankfully God forgives us—even when we miss it big. 

Like Shawn Bolz says in “Translating God”:

“God isn’t looking at our current weakness or lack of righteousness as a disqualifier, but he sees what we would be like if we followed him with our whole heart and loves us that way.”

Thank the Lord!  Even when I find rest in being forgiven I want to learn—I want to grow.  I want to leave this situation with a burning passion to not miss another door.  To have my eyes wide open to see. 

David tells us in Psalm 16:

"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

He is making known to us the path of life.  Even in seasons of waiting when we feel that we don't know up from down and we can't see the next step, He has a path set before us. 

As I looked out the window I saw a gust of wind blow snow off the roof and suddenly it had direction.  Wind is something that we have faith it's there even when we can't see it.  In a moment the wind carried the snow and it had shape.  I could see the wind.  I believe that God is blowing shape into every avenue of our lives.  In His perfect timing He is giving vision to see the unseen path set before us.  Just like the wind, we need to have faith that His plan is always there and that He will give shape to it at the perfect moment.

His direction and the path of life include people that need to hear the good news!  I want to have eyes to see who He is putting in my path. 

Shawn Bolz also says:

"...discernment is merely a conversation starter...you cannot stay at your starting point.  God has given you discernment so you can pray and get his spiritual perspective...For everything you discern, there is a deeper, more original thought about it in God's heart."

In all honesty I have no idea what I would have said to the girls in the locker room, but I guarantee if I had had the readiness to seek beyond my own discernment, God knew what He wanted to say.  He provided a door and He was ready to share His heart. 

I am one member of His body, and this is definitely an area that I have fallen short—but I don't believe I'm the only one.  I think God wants His church to wake up to the people He is placing in our path, because He is placing them there!  He is revealing to each of us every step of the path of life in His timing and for His purposes.

I want to be able to say like David did in the very next Psalm (17):

"My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped."

Let's seek to see and then listen to hear.  Seek to see the path and the people before you and don't forget to listen to hear His heart for His people.  We are messengers and He is ready to use messengers that are open vessels to what He has to say. 

Are we ready for the open doors?  Because they are coming—Praise the Lord, open doors are coming!

Fan the Flame

"If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all."  Isaiah 7:9b

I hear God reminding us that He is so much greater than any issue, any struggle, and any circumstance.  I've felt called to pray for seemingly impossible global issues.  Broken situations saturated in evil—issues as big as the sex trade, child abuse, and abortion.   They all seem like untouchable issues that desperately need to be tackled, but God just simply asks "Do you have faith?  Do you have faith in me, the King of kings and Lord of lords?  Do you have faith in my redemptive power?  Do you have faith in my word and what I have promised?"

He wants His children to be bold in prayer.  To not be afraid to "go there" in our requests to Him.  He is not exhausted by the thought of battling for freedom from sex trafficking.  He is not exhausted by persistent pleading.  He is not exhausted by the mess that the world and our sin nature are so good at creating.

I feel God stirring up His body to pray bold prayers, to walk in extreme obedience, and to find unimaginable joy.  When I have gathered with other members of His body lately I keep hearing Him stir up praise as a reminder of His heart reflected in this verse:

"I am reminded of your sincere faith...For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."  2 Timothy 1:5-6

Because He has and is training us in faith He is leading us through a season of reminding us to fan the flame within us.  To walk in the power of the Spirit—to walk boldly, seeking His direction.  He has allowed members of His body to walk through extreme and real trials in this life.  He has expressed His compassion for them, His desire for them to persevere and walk obediently, and to do so with a joy that can only be found in Him.

These trials and lessons are not without purpose.  God wants His children to be firm—and if we aren't firm in faith we will not be firm in anything.

These lessons are not for bottling up.  For keeping in a neat and tidy box that we can pull out when we meet in buildings on Sunday's with a room full of believers.  I feel God stirring up His purpose.

He says:

"Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do.  But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me."  2 Timothy 1:8-12

 

There is a broken and hurting world that is experiencing the same aches that we are facing—without a Victor.  God is stirring up such joy and praise in His body—people are going to notice!  The world is going to see a joy that is unimaginable given the circumstances we have or are still facing.  God's purpose is not only for it to be evident in how we live, but He wants us to boldly proclaim what He has freely gifted us!

He is stirring up His body for something so much greater than the freedom we get to experience as individuals.  He is calling us to be His workers—to go out and be vessels filled and equipped by Him to build His kingdom.

He tells us:

"Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him...Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal.  But the word of God is not bound!  Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.  The saying is trustworthy, for:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him;

if we endure, we will also reign with him;

if we deny him, he also will deny us;

if we are faithless, he remains faithful—

 

for he cannot deny himself." 2 Timothy 2:3-4, 7-13

He has equipped and is equipping you, His child, to go boldly proclaiming the testimony of what He has done and what He continues to do.  Remember that gift He has been training you to fan into flame?  Yeah, His Holy Spirit dwelling inside you?  He cannot deny Himself!  No matter what—under any circumstance—any suffering we may face—He is faithfully walking with you through it all.

We are not called to have a spirit of fear but of power, love, and self-control.  Let us not fear sharing the greatest news that has ever come to us!  Let us be stirred up in praise, obedience, and joy with a heart set on chasing the purpose of God!

There are people ready to hear the news.  There are people waiting to hear that there is redemption from the pain and suffering that they are experiencing.  He allows us to be the bearers of the best news that could ever collide with the pain of this world!  He allows us to shine a light into the darkness.  He allows us to share in suffering and see the fruit of His Spirit redeeming even the most challenging circumstances.

Are we ready for it?  Are we ready to walk boldly, confidently, intently pressing into Him listening for His prompting?  Are we firm in the faith that He is as mighty and powerful as He says He is? 

Let the stirring of your heart welling up to praise overflow into the rest of your life—not just Sunday's, not just with other members of the body of Christ, but beyond that.  Flooding through the streets of your city, proclaiming the joy, excitement, and healing power that you've experienced.  I want to see it catch like wild fire!  He can do it.  He wants to do it.  He will do it.  The question is are we going to be a part of it?