My past three ABC posts include: Name above all Names, Offer help Often, and Prince of Peace Please Come. Today, it's Quiet my Questioning heart.

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Quiet my Questioning heart? Synopsis Exodus 15:23-16:1-17.

‍Long ago, Moses led the Israelite nation out of slavery from Egypt. They survived the ten plagues and made a grand exit, straight through the parted Red Sea. These people saw and experienced God's powerful work on their behalf. Three days into their new freedom journey, however, they began to grumble due to lack of water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter…So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?" Likewise, two weeks later, they grumbled again, "If only we had died by the Lord's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you (Moses) have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death." The Israelite nation could not trust the faithfulness of God due to their unquieted questioning hearts. In spite of their grumbling, the Lord provided food and water daily for them during the disciplining forty years in the desert.

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Quiet my Questioning heart! Synopsis of Genesis 37, 39, 50:20.

‍If only these Israelites had remembered the story of their great ancestor Joseph. As a young man, he was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers; then later, once in Egypt, he was thrown into prison for a crime he did not commit. For a decade, he had reason to cry out often, "Lord, quiet my questioning heart!" In His time and in His way, God did send His peace and provision as Joseph continued to put his trust in the Lord's direction. He eventually was released from prison and rose to the position of second in command in Egypt. Joseph continued to walk with the Lord; he even gave forgiveness to his brothers, saying to them, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish now what is being done…".

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When I look at these two stories, here are a few questions:

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Do I tend to grumble and complain when things don't go my way?

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Do I trust God with ALL my heart in times of uncertainty?

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What practical ways can I trust him more in a difficult situation or unknown path?

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In these stories, I see both parties questioning God. Really, I think God is fine with our questions. Even Jesus questioned His Father on the cross. What God is after is the attitude of our hearts. Do the questions we raise to Him come from a place of angry mistrust, or are they a plea for His help in the midst of our diverse circumstances? He must discipline the former, but He honors the latter. Let's bring our BIG questions to the Lord, and ask Him to quiet us in whatever answer He chooses to give, all the while remembering, He is ALWAYS working for our ultimate good.

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Will you trust Him?

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‍Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord; O Lord hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy…I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope. Psalm 130:1-2, 5

The previous few ABC posts are entitled: Offer Help Often, Prince of Peace Please Come, and Quiet my Questioning Heart. Today, it's Rest with Him, Run with Him.

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‍Rest with Him, Run with Him? Synopsis of 1 Samuel 18:5-16, 19:9-18.

Long ago, a man named Saul became the appointed king of Israel. The people were proud of King Saul, for he was taller than any of his people from his shoulders upward (I Samuel 10:23). The Israelites wanted Saul to represent strength and power to all the other nations. King Saul did lead mightily for a time but his heart did not rest nor run with the Lord. As a matter of fact, Saul was driven by jealousy and anger because of a young shepherd boy named David who had killed the Philistine giant. The Israelites began to praise David's name over that of Saul's, which was infuriating to him. Many times Saul tried to kill David with his own spear, causing David to flee from his presence. Instead of pursuing God, King Saul ran after David; because of this misdirected ambition, his soul never found rest.

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‍Rest with Him Run with Him! Synopsis of Psalm 23, 18:28-36.

‍David, on the other hand, both rested and ran with the Lord. As a young shepherd boy, he learned how to be quiet as he watched over the sheep, and also, he learned how to fight as he protected them from predators. This trust and training is what gave him the confidence to face and then slay Goliath. In time and by God's appointment, David became king over Israel. Although his reign was not flawless, his life was marked by receiving forgiveness and then living in obedience to his God. Because of these qualities, God called David "a man after His own heart." David knew how to both rest and run with the Lord.

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When looking at the two men, I have to ask myself:

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What controls my thoughts, and then possibly my actions?

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Do I desire "rest" or do I just want to "run" on my own emotions and actions?

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What are practical ways that I can implement "resting with the Lord" each day?

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It is safe to say that if you're not resting with the Lord, then your soul is ...restless. Saul was fitful because his mind was full of jealousy; this emotion drove his actions. But David, on the other hand, knew how to be still before the Lord. In this quiet space, he poured out his heart and he knew he was heard.  We see much of his raw emotion and his absolute trust throughout the pages of the psalms. After David poured out, God was able to pour in. Then, and only then, was David ready for battle.

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Let's learn how "to be" and how "not to be" from these two men.  Choose to be still and bring all your hurts and all your desires before the Lord. Daily rest with Him, so that you can daily run with Him.

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‍For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In repentance and rest you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength." But you were not willing. Isaiah 30:15

My previous three ABC posts are entitled: Prince of Peace Please Come, Quiet my Questioning Heart, and Rest with Him, Run with Him. Today, it is Stand Steady in His Strength.

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Stand Steady in His Strength?  Matthew 14:22-33.

‍Jesus' disciples were on a boat in the midst of a fierce storm. Late into the night, they saw a ghost-like figure walking on the water with the waves swirling all around him. Jesus called out, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Then Peter confidently called to Him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." So the Lord called him, and Peter stepped out of the boat onto the water with his eyes fixed on Jesus. But as he was stepping forward, he started panicking because of the wind and the waves; consequently, he began to sink. He was no longer standing steady in the strength of the Lord. Jesus, however, held out His hand to Peter, and once they stepped into the boat, the wind and the waves became calm.

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‍Stand Steady in His Strength! Synopsis of Mark 2:1-13.

‍On another occasion, Jesus was teaching a crowd of people in a house in Capernaum. Four men were carrying their paralyzed friend on a mat towards the house with intentions of getting close to Jesus for healing. The room was packed, so they climbed to the roof, pulled it apart, and then lowered their sick friend down into the room directly in front of Jesus. Jesus spoke these words to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven…I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." The paralytic obeyed Jesus. This healed man was now able to stand in the strength that the Lord had given him. He and all the people in the house were amazed at Jesus' wonderful work.

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In these two passages, here are a few questions:

In the midst of a trial, where is my focus?

Am I willing to obey the Lord when he says "rise", or am I somehow more comfortable in my misery?

What are some practical ways that I can keep my eyes fixed on Christ?

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In these passages, I see one man sinking and one man rising. Peter, who often wrestled with over-confidence, realized he was "in over his head." When he took his eyes off of Jesus, he momentarily thought it was up to him to keep himself afloat. (Thankfully, he cried out, "Lord, save me!") On the other hand, the paralytic, who knew he could do nothing in his own power, obeyed Jesus' command, rose to his feet, and then walked home with confident joy.

How often we, in our flesh, become unstable. We can either sink down into a pit or climb up onto a pedestal. Those of us who tend to have a self-PIT-y mindset say things like: "I'm a failure", "I don't measure up", "Nobody loves me"; they blame and shame themselves. On the other hand, those who tend to have a man-made "pedestal" mindset say things like: "I'm in control", "I'm always right", "I don't need anybody"; they blame and shame others. These mindsets, although very different from each other, both have self at the core. Neither pit nor pedestal will ever provide a firm foundation for standing.

But then, there is a not-of-the-flesh-power that we as Christians inherit through faith. Let's remember, His Spirit is alive in us! When we realize, like the paralytic, that we can do nothing in and of our own strength, and when we decide, like Peter (at first), to fix our eyes only on Jesus, then and only then, can we stand steady in His strength. His power, not our own, makes our feet firm and our foundation solid so that we can do all we were created to do, for His glory.

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Ask the Almighty One to pull you out of your pit before you get stuck there, or ask the Exalted One to help you to step down from your pedestal before you fall. Allow Him to set your feet upon the solid rock so that you can do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that you ask or think according to the power that works within you. (Eph. 3:20) It's how Peter walked on water; it's how the paralytic skipped home; and it's how you can live your life, every day.

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‍He sent from on high, He took me; He drew me out of may waters… He brought me forth also into a broad place… for by Him I can run upon a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. (Ps. 18:16, 19,29)

The three previous ABC posts I have written are: Quiet my Questioning Heart, Rest with Him-Run with Him, and Stand Steady in His Strength. Today's post is: Totally Trust the Truth.

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Totally Trust the Truth? Synopsis of 2 Chronicles 15:1-5; 16:1-9; 12.

Long ago, King Asa ruled over the nation of Judah. For most of his reign, he did good and right in the sight of the Lord. He removed foreign altars and high places from the land. As a result, God's blessing of peace was on the nation during this time. However, in the 36th year of Asa's reign, Baasha, King of Israel, planned an attack against Judah. For some reason, instead of turning to the Lord first to seek help, King Asa sought to make an alliance with an earthly king, Ben-hadad of Aram. Asa chose not to trust the truth that God was the Almighty One who could and would fight for His people. As a result of this decision, wars began and continued for the duration of Asa's reign.

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‍Totally Trust the Truth! Synopsis of 2 Chronicles 20:1-28.

‍After Asa died, his son Jehoshaphat became the king of Judah. King Jehoshaphat loved the Lord and sought to keep His commandments. At one point in his reign, enemies from all sides were coming upon Judah. King Jehoshaphat was frightened by these strong armies, so he turned his attention to seek the Lord. He brought the people of Judah together in order to fast and pray. God spoke to them through a prophet, "You need not fight this battle, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf." Instead of fighting, God told the people to worship Him with praise through music and song; they were to totally trust the truth that God would deliver them from the enemies. The people obeyed, and God's hand was victorious on the battlefield on their behalf.

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When I look at King Asa and King Jehoshaphat in the midst of their battle decisions, here are a few questions:

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Do I tend to try to figure things out by myself before I seek the Lord for help?

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Who am I asking for advice in a confusing situation? Are they wise?

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What practical way can I implement "seeking the Lord first" in heated situations? (Notice, the people of Judah sang worship songs!)

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Why is it that we tend to first exhaust all our human resources during crisis mode before we remember to turn to the Lord and seek His help? We must remember, He is the One who is in control; He is the One who has all the answers; He is the One who can defeat anything that we are up against! Because of these truths, HE IS THE ONE to turn to!

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I want to seek Him first!

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‍Lord, please help me turn to You and totally trust the truth of Your word. Give me songs in my heart, songs of praise and adoration, songs of hope and deliverance. And as I sing, I will watch expectantly with full assurance that You are fighting for me as I am trusting in You. Amen

My previous three ABC posts are: Rest with Him Run with Him, Stand Steady in His Strength, and Totally Trust the Truth. Today's post is: Understand His Unfailing Love.

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‍Understand His Unfailing Love? Synopsis of John 19:1-16.

‍Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor during Jesus' ministry. The Jewish chief priests went to Pilate in order to get his permission to crucify Jesus. Pilate stood face to face with Jesus and was confused by His silent strength and unwavering mindset. In the midst of the limited but powerful conversation, Pilate asked Jesus, "What is truth?" This unresolved internal conflict led Pilate to the persuaded external decision of turning Jesus over to the Jews to be crucified. Sadly, Pontius Pilate never understood the unfailing love of Jesus Christ.

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‍Understand His Unfailing Love! Synopsis of John 3:1-16; 7:50-52; 19:39-40.

There was another man named Nicodemus who also stood face to face with Jesus. One night, during Jesus' earlier years of ministry, Nicodemus asked the Teacher (Jesus) several difficult questions. As he was listening intently to His answers he became confused, but he did not walk away. Instead, Jesus' inviting words of being born of the Spirit captivated Nicodemus' heart. From this middle-of-the night encounter with the great Teacher, Nicodemus began to understand the unfailing love of God, and he longed to know more of this beautiful Truth. Consequently, at the time of Jesus' trial, Nicodemus boldly defended Jesus before his own Jewish council; he was no longer afraid to be a Christ-follower. And after Jesus was crucified, Nicodemus loyally helped bury His body.

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When looking at these two men, here are a few questions:

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Do I tend to give into peer pressure or do I make a stand when it comes to who Jesus is?

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Do I truly understand God's love for me?

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Do I believe that God's word is His love letter to me?

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Both men in the passages above asked questions. Pontius Pilate was pulled toward the truth when listening to Jesus, but then, he was wishy-washy and stepped away. Nicodemus, on the other hand, decided to keep walking persistently forward. He asked one question at a time and gleaned from Jesus' thought-provoking words. Jesus honored Nicodemus' searching heart by giving him insight into the truth of who He is: the One who will give His life as a ransom for many.

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Remember, Jesus literally died to give you His unfailing love. Today, right now, He longs to be gracious to you, He waits on high to have compassion on you. (Isaiah 30:18). Don't back away from His words of truth; don't give into the pressure of the world. Instead, be persistent with your questions, and He will be faithful with His answers. Make it your ambition to understand His unfailing love and, I promise you, you will not be disappointed.

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‍"Let him who boasts, boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on the earth; for I delight in these things," declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 9:24)The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.  (2 Chronicles 16:9)

My three previous ABC posts are entitled: Stand Steady in His Strength, Totally Trust the Truth, and Understand His Unfailing Love. Today's post is: Victory Belongs to His Valiant Warrior.

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‍Victory Belongs to His Valiant Warrior? Synopsis of Judges 13-16.

‍Long ago there was a man named Samson who was given  rare and extreme physical strength. God intended Samson to use this mighty power to begin deliverance from the hand of the Philistines who had been oppressing the Israelites for 40 years. Samson did indeed kill many Philistines with his matchless strength, but his weakness, the desire of foreign women, kept him from being known as a valiant warrior for his people. As a matter of fact, Samson is most remembered for his tragic downfall which came through a woman named Delilah. Delilah betrayed Samson by telling his enemies the secret of his strength; as a result, his valiant victories as a warrior were no longer his to obtain...until one last redemptive act.

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‍Victory Belongs to His Valiant Warrior! Synopsis of Judges 6, 7.

Another man named Gideon was also living during an oppressive time. The Israelites lived in constant dread of the Midianites' plunderous attacks. Gideon was so frightened by this raging army that he would thresh wheat in a wine press so that he would not be seen by them. Ironically, while Gideon was hiding in this place, the angel of the Lord approached Gideon and said, "The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior." God saw something in Gideon that Gideon himself was not yet aware of: courage. Gideon chose to trust God's perspective of him. This inexperienced young man humbly obeyed the Lord's instruction concerning leadership and battle strategy; as a result, Gideon soundly defeated the vast Midianite army with only 300 men. God's strength prevailed and victory belonged to His valiant warrior, Gideon.

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‍When looking at Samson and Gideon, here are a few questions:

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What are my greatest strengths? and weaknesses?

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Do I realize that both my strengths and weaknesses can be used to bring God glory?

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What is a way I can use my unique gift for the Lord today?

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In the above passages, I see a paradox. Samson, full of strength and might, was made powerless by just one woman. Gideon, however, who was the least in his tribe and the youngest in his family, defeated a vast army of trained soldiers. Samson lost touch with his God-given gift and began using it for his own desires; in contrast, Gideon tapped into his "weakness" and kept the Lord as his Commander, trusting him to do great things.

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Each one of us has been blessed uniquely. Let's seek to use our gifts for His glory only. He wants to do great things through you and me, but our gifts and abilities are mere avenues of revealing God's glory to people. Samson missed the point and was humbled; Gideon embraced the truth and was exalted. Fully trust, humbly obey, and then confidently march into your battle. (Also realize you will always have an enemy that fights against the progress of His glory). Victory belongs to HIS Valiant Warrior!

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‍For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? The God who girds me with strength, and makes my way blameless? He makes my feet like hinds' feet, and sets me up on my high places. He trains my hands for battle, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. Ps 18:31-34