Continuing the last post's "praise first, petition second" theme: if you talk about your difficulties, you'll only talk yourself into further worry. If you praise God, you'll strengthen yourself to let go and let Him deal with your problems--in the way He knows is best.
Someone probably is thinking right now, "That's easy to say if your worst problem is shortage of funds to buy a yacht. But I've got cancer/my husband just left me with three small children/our house burned down and we don't have insurance/I've been out of work for six months--how can I possibly think of anything but my problems?"
Well, if you think your troubles are bad, consider Job. He had just about every tragedy that could happen to a person--financial ruin, loss of family, chronic illness--hit him in rapid succession; and to top it off, his best friends kept telling him he must have brought it on himself. He had all but demanded an audience with God so he could prove he had done nothing to deserve all this. And then God showed up--to confront Job with the full force of His power and authority. Job's response? He stopped complaining about his pain. He stopped protesting the injustice of life. All he could do was admit his unworthiness, and apologize for his presumptive attitudes (Job 40:3-5; 42:1-6).
We tend to forget that God not only doesn't owe us problem-free lives, He doesn't owe us anything at all. For all the derisive comments about "pie in the sky by and by," it's unmistakably true that if God only saved our souls while denying us all earthly blessings, that would still be infinitely more than we deserve. The more we realize that, the closer we move toward being able to find happiness in the only place that counts--in God alone.
But we'll never make any progress in that direction until we learn to consistently praise Him for Who He is.
Does your soul feel heavy and burdened?
Do gloom and despair stalk your days?
Try counting the Lord's great attributes:
There can be no joy without praise.
We talk about counting our blessings,
And that stands among the best ways,
But do not forget--bless the Giver!
There can be no joy without praise.
For even the richest of blessings,
If they're to preeminence raised,
Soon grow dull and taken for granted:
There can be no joy without praise.
God's mercies are new every morning,
God's light stands out even through haze,
God's glory outshines all earth's treasures:
There can be no joy without praise.
So do thank the Lord for His blessings,
But thank Him the more for His grace,
And let what He is overwhelm you:
There can be no joy without praise.
Confession will free you from burdens;
Thanksgiving will sharpen your gaze,
But if you'd be always rejoicing,
Be sure to keep singing God's praise!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Friday, February 8, 2008
Lord of the Heavens
Today's selection was inspired by King Jehoshaphat's prayer in 2 Chron. 20:6-12. As Jehoshaphat and other saints of the Bible understood (compare Acts 4:24-30), the best approach to praying about our troubles is to begin with pure praise of God's power, love, and trustworthiness--before we start telling Him how big our problems are. After we remember how big God is, our problems seem a lot smaller.
Lord of the heavens and all on the earth,
Lord God Almighty, Whom none can withstand,
Lord of each life from the moment of birth,
All power and might come at last from Your hand.
Lord, You have promised Your presence within:
Guide and Provider for all of our days,
You Who have promised to keep us from sin,
Strengthen our hearts to burst forth with Your praise.
Fierce are life's battles with want and with pain;
Fiercest of all is my own sinful heart.
You are the Warrior, Your victory is plain--
I a mere servant, obedience my part.
Strengthen our wills, grant us faith to stand strong,
Drive away fear; give us eyes that can see
Your mighty triumph that conquers all wrong;
You in Your love win the victory for me.
Lord of the heavens and all on the earth,
Lord God Almighty, Whom none can withstand,
Lord of each life from the moment of birth,
All power and might come at last from Your hand.
Lord, You have promised Your presence within:
Guide and Provider for all of our days,
You Who have promised to keep us from sin,
Strengthen our hearts to burst forth with Your praise.
Fierce are life's battles with want and with pain;
Fiercest of all is my own sinful heart.
You are the Warrior, Your victory is plain--
I a mere servant, obedience my part.
Strengthen our wills, grant us faith to stand strong,
Drive away fear; give us eyes that can see
Your mighty triumph that conquers all wrong;
You in Your love win the victory for me.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
In You Is My Strength
I have a confession to make. I hate Scripture references.
Before anyone calls the Inquisition, let me quickly add that I do not hate Scripture. What I hate is to be cruising through a Christian book or Bible study, and hit a list of fifty citations consisting solely of book names with chapter and verse numbers--accompanied by the not-always-unspoken demand that I interrupt my reading to pick up a Bible and review each one. Presumably to compensate for the writer's being too lazy to copy them out herself.
I very nearly threw a book out the window last night when, already hurrying to get through the chapter and move on to finish other things by bedtime, I came upon a written exercise instructing me to "Review thoroughly each Scripture cited"--two double-columned pages of them--"and note any instances where God humbled people."
That was the book's subject: Christian humility. And there I was considering my time too valuable to waste on studying it.
Like most human beings, I tend to think of myself as a "good," if not exactly perfect, person--until I remember what the Bible has to say about our natural depravity. "'There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one" (Rom. 3:10-12, NIV). "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way" (Is. 53:6).
Even aside from our natural propensity to obvious sin, we make fools of ourselves whenever we forget how great God is and how infinitesimal we are. Most of us could benefit quite a bit from taking half an hour daily to review God's attributes and our total inability to measure up on our own.
Even if--especially if!--it interferes with our preferred schedules.
Lord of all Greatness and Source of Grace,
Lord Who alone has the Power to Save,
Quick to respond to the sinner's prayer,
Who helps the tempted all things to bear--
You are Almighty and I am weak:
Give me the courage Your face to seek.
Lord of all Healing and Source of Strength,
In Whom all Wisdom and Justice link,
Gateway to Glory and Path to Peace,
In Whom all sinners can find release--
You are All-Righteous, I evil-stained:
Give me the victory that You have gained.
Lord All-Sufficient, Great King of All,
On Whom the suffering and wounded call,
Faithful and Merciful all in One,
You Whose Plans never can be undone--
You are enduring, my strength will fade:
Give Your own Power to this soul You made.
Lord Ever-Faithful and All-Supreme,
Incomprehensible, Mighty Being,
No power of earth ever conquers You,
Even dark death becomes nothing too--
You are Immortal, I trapped in time:
Give me the patience for Your Design.
Lord of the Present and Days to Come,
Master of Each Age Past and Gone,
Lord All-Deserving of Every Praise,
King Over All, Unsurpassed in Grace--
God All-Sufficient, my faith is small:
But feed it till it grows strong and tall.
Before anyone calls the Inquisition, let me quickly add that I do not hate Scripture. What I hate is to be cruising through a Christian book or Bible study, and hit a list of fifty citations consisting solely of book names with chapter and verse numbers--accompanied by the not-always-unspoken demand that I interrupt my reading to pick up a Bible and review each one. Presumably to compensate for the writer's being too lazy to copy them out herself.
I very nearly threw a book out the window last night when, already hurrying to get through the chapter and move on to finish other things by bedtime, I came upon a written exercise instructing me to "Review thoroughly each Scripture cited"--two double-columned pages of them--"and note any instances where God humbled people."
That was the book's subject: Christian humility. And there I was considering my time too valuable to waste on studying it.
Like most human beings, I tend to think of myself as a "good," if not exactly perfect, person--until I remember what the Bible has to say about our natural depravity. "'There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one" (Rom. 3:10-12, NIV). "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way" (Is. 53:6).
Even aside from our natural propensity to obvious sin, we make fools of ourselves whenever we forget how great God is and how infinitesimal we are. Most of us could benefit quite a bit from taking half an hour daily to review God's attributes and our total inability to measure up on our own.
Even if--especially if!--it interferes with our preferred schedules.
Lord of all Greatness and Source of Grace,
Lord Who alone has the Power to Save,
Quick to respond to the sinner's prayer,
Who helps the tempted all things to bear--
You are Almighty and I am weak:
Give me the courage Your face to seek.
Lord of all Healing and Source of Strength,
In Whom all Wisdom and Justice link,
Gateway to Glory and Path to Peace,
In Whom all sinners can find release--
You are All-Righteous, I evil-stained:
Give me the victory that You have gained.
Lord All-Sufficient, Great King of All,
On Whom the suffering and wounded call,
Faithful and Merciful all in One,
You Whose Plans never can be undone--
You are enduring, my strength will fade:
Give Your own Power to this soul You made.
Lord Ever-Faithful and All-Supreme,
Incomprehensible, Mighty Being,
No power of earth ever conquers You,
Even dark death becomes nothing too--
You are Immortal, I trapped in time:
Give me the patience for Your Design.
Lord of the Present and Days to Come,
Master of Each Age Past and Gone,
Lord All-Deserving of Every Praise,
King Over All, Unsurpassed in Grace--
God All-Sufficient, my faith is small:
But feed it till it grows strong and tall.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Stars and Pebbles
"I will... make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore," God promised Abraham centuries ago (Gen. 22:17, NIV). The implications of that promise may go even deeper than foretelling Abraham's spiritual descendants. Stars are among the largest objects in the physical universe; grains of sand are among the smallest objects in the visible world. Our God is not only powerful enough to exercise His will over the universe, but thorough enough to pay attention to the tiniest detail.
Often we wonder why God calls relatively few Christians to be eloquent preachers, famous authors, and wealthy philanthropists. Surely we could win the world faster, if only there were more of us capable of real impact? But while thousands may be "converted" through a TV broadcast, the most sincere and committed Christians are usually won and discipled by the up-close-and-personal faith of relatives and acquaintances. As St. Paul wrote, "Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.... so that no one may boast before him.... those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor" (1 Cor. 1:26-27, 29; 12:22-23).
When tempted to be jealous of fellow Christians' "dynamic" gifts, we should remember two things:
1. What matters is not for us to do great deeds, but for God to do great deeds through us.
2. Only God has the wisdom--and the right--to define which deeds are ultimately great.
If we truly want to do God's will, we should be pleased to do it His way.
The stars of heaven, small to our eyes,
Are blazing giants of enormous size.
The stones of earth, small at our feet,
Together could pave every city street.
The gifts of God, which some disdain,
Fall thicker than heaven's drops of rain;
Like stars and stones, which none can count,
His blessings flow in untold amount.
All that we have comes from above;
The tiniest talent's bestowed in love.
Do not despise your gift as small:
God's wisdom and power supply us all.
Often we wonder why God calls relatively few Christians to be eloquent preachers, famous authors, and wealthy philanthropists. Surely we could win the world faster, if only there were more of us capable of real impact? But while thousands may be "converted" through a TV broadcast, the most sincere and committed Christians are usually won and discipled by the up-close-and-personal faith of relatives and acquaintances. As St. Paul wrote, "Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.... so that no one may boast before him.... those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor" (1 Cor. 1:26-27, 29; 12:22-23).
When tempted to be jealous of fellow Christians' "dynamic" gifts, we should remember two things:
1. What matters is not for us to do great deeds, but for God to do great deeds through us.
2. Only God has the wisdom--and the right--to define which deeds are ultimately great.
If we truly want to do God's will, we should be pleased to do it His way.
The stars of heaven, small to our eyes,
Are blazing giants of enormous size.
The stones of earth, small at our feet,
Together could pave every city street.
The gifts of God, which some disdain,
Fall thicker than heaven's drops of rain;
Like stars and stones, which none can count,
His blessings flow in untold amount.
All that we have comes from above;
The tiniest talent's bestowed in love.
Do not despise your gift as small:
God's wisdom and power supply us all.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Guidance
While many believers are reasonably certain of God's general will for their lives, I have never heard of His handing anyone a program that lists, along the lines of an academic course syllabus, specific activities for each day to come. Maybe it's just as well. In college days, my first reaction on receiving a syllabus was usually panic: "How will I ever get all this done?!"
Still, most Christians have moments when we wish God would supply a little more detail. We may see the goal clearly, but have no idea how we're going to get there from here. Or we may not even know where we're going to end up; all may be thick fog as far as we can see beyond where we're standing.
Perhaps the Psalmist remembered similar moments as he wrote, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path" (Ps. 119:105, NIV). In an era when people complain that resort lights ruin the view of the stars, it can be difficult to picture how dark nights could get when the Psalms were written. Lamps were the only source of artificial light, and frequently a feeble and sputtering source at that. Finding one's way home in the dark, especially in a rural area, could be terrifying; who knew what lurked in the shadows just beyond that tiny circle of visibility? Yet, as John Henry Newman wrote centuries later in "Lead, Kindly Light," the Psalmist did "not ask to see the distant scene" so long as God's Word was guiding his immediate step.
We can do nothing about the future until it arrives. Let us be content to let God keep the coming years, and to do the duty He assigns us for today.
I asked for a map to show me
The full route of life to the end,
But God said, "No: take My compass,
And Me by your side as your Friend."
I asked for a panorama
And a full view for miles ahead,
But God said, "Walk in the darkness;
Let Me guide each step that you tread."
I moaned, "But in paths uncertain,
I could journey faster by sight."
But He said, "Faith guides you truer,
When it puts in your heart My light.
"For those who walk paths marked plainly
May put all their trust in pride;
But if you would grow in wisdom,
You must make Me your only Guide."
I still tread a path uncertain
Where even close views are dim,
But with God beside each moment,
I see things far clearer through Him.
Still, most Christians have moments when we wish God would supply a little more detail. We may see the goal clearly, but have no idea how we're going to get there from here. Or we may not even know where we're going to end up; all may be thick fog as far as we can see beyond where we're standing.
Perhaps the Psalmist remembered similar moments as he wrote, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path" (Ps. 119:105, NIV). In an era when people complain that resort lights ruin the view of the stars, it can be difficult to picture how dark nights could get when the Psalms were written. Lamps were the only source of artificial light, and frequently a feeble and sputtering source at that. Finding one's way home in the dark, especially in a rural area, could be terrifying; who knew what lurked in the shadows just beyond that tiny circle of visibility? Yet, as John Henry Newman wrote centuries later in "Lead, Kindly Light," the Psalmist did "not ask to see the distant scene" so long as God's Word was guiding his immediate step.
We can do nothing about the future until it arrives. Let us be content to let God keep the coming years, and to do the duty He assigns us for today.
I asked for a map to show me
The full route of life to the end,
But God said, "No: take My compass,
And Me by your side as your Friend."
I asked for a panorama
And a full view for miles ahead,
But God said, "Walk in the darkness;
Let Me guide each step that you tread."
I moaned, "But in paths uncertain,
I could journey faster by sight."
But He said, "Faith guides you truer,
When it puts in your heart My light.
"For those who walk paths marked plainly
May put all their trust in pride;
But if you would grow in wisdom,
You must make Me your only Guide."
I still tread a path uncertain
Where even close views are dim,
But with God beside each moment,
I see things far clearer through Him.
Monday, February 4, 2008
The Honest Souls
The ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes, nicknamed "The Cynic," was said to have carried around a lantern in daylight to make a show of looking for an ever-elusive honest man. Today, many of us don't even bother searching; we're too busy making sure the dishonest people don't get the best of us. Planning to hire someone? Make sure you run a full background check--and have him sign a 20-page contract. Buying something at a store? Keep one finger over the number on your charge card; someone might photograph it with a cell phone. Never offer to help a stranger. Never accept help from a stranger. Teach your children early on to be suspicious of anyone who shows interest in them. Don't even smile at people. Better to snub the innocent than fall victim to the unscrupulous.
Unfortunately, since unscrupulous people do exist--and since the most dangerous ones are very good at faking trustworthiness--I can't advise you to ignore all of the above and feel free to get into cars with strangers on dark streets. But it does seem worth noting that the more suspicious people become of each other, the more dishonest the world as a whole seems to get. It shouldn't surprise us. The more we distrust others, the more we avoid them--and the less we know them. The less we know them, the less inclined we are to get involved when they're in trouble. The less people help others in trouble, the more criminals feel free to do as they please. The more crimes are committed, the more we distrust others.... and so on and on.
Both Paul (1 Cor. 6:6-8) and Jesus (Mt. 5:38-42) said that it was better to let people take advantage of us than to dishonor the name of God by being petty and vindictive. Not that we should never defend our safety or our rights; but we must not let them become idols. If we do, we show that we don't really trust God; we don't believe He will defend us, so we take that job out of His hands. And often we turn dishonest ourselves: stretching the truth here; calling in sick there; telling "white lies" to avoid embarrassment--all in the name of not letting other people take advantage of us. We become as worldly as any non-Christian.
We would do better to concentrate on becoming living examples of godly honesty. Maybe then others will realize that we do, in fact, have something they want.
The world has need of the honest souls, who work hard for their daily bread--
An honest day's work for an honest day's pay, and no thought to take ease instead--
Who give what they can, and take what they earn, and want only to do their share,
To put in their part so the world runs smooth, for they know what is just and fair.
The world has need of the honest souls, who will not take a chance to sin,
With whom every unlocked door is safe, and cash down to the final ten;
Who return what is lost, and pay what they owe, and see others receive their due;
Who hold to their word even when it hurts, for they know what is firm and true.
The world has need of the honest souls, who work to correct the wrong,
Who stand for the right whatever the cost, for their courage is firm and strong.
Lord, make me an honest soul for You, and a beacon and guiding light,
Till the world is an ocean of honest souls, and a mighty force for the right!
Unfortunately, since unscrupulous people do exist--and since the most dangerous ones are very good at faking trustworthiness--I can't advise you to ignore all of the above and feel free to get into cars with strangers on dark streets. But it does seem worth noting that the more suspicious people become of each other, the more dishonest the world as a whole seems to get. It shouldn't surprise us. The more we distrust others, the more we avoid them--and the less we know them. The less we know them, the less inclined we are to get involved when they're in trouble. The less people help others in trouble, the more criminals feel free to do as they please. The more crimes are committed, the more we distrust others.... and so on and on.
Both Paul (1 Cor. 6:6-8) and Jesus (Mt. 5:38-42) said that it was better to let people take advantage of us than to dishonor the name of God by being petty and vindictive. Not that we should never defend our safety or our rights; but we must not let them become idols. If we do, we show that we don't really trust God; we don't believe He will defend us, so we take that job out of His hands. And often we turn dishonest ourselves: stretching the truth here; calling in sick there; telling "white lies" to avoid embarrassment--all in the name of not letting other people take advantage of us. We become as worldly as any non-Christian.
We would do better to concentrate on becoming living examples of godly honesty. Maybe then others will realize that we do, in fact, have something they want.
The world has need of the honest souls, who work hard for their daily bread--
An honest day's work for an honest day's pay, and no thought to take ease instead--
Who give what they can, and take what they earn, and want only to do their share,
To put in their part so the world runs smooth, for they know what is just and fair.
The world has need of the honest souls, who will not take a chance to sin,
With whom every unlocked door is safe, and cash down to the final ten;
Who return what is lost, and pay what they owe, and see others receive their due;
Who hold to their word even when it hurts, for they know what is firm and true.
The world has need of the honest souls, who work to correct the wrong,
Who stand for the right whatever the cost, for their courage is firm and strong.
Lord, make me an honest soul for You, and a beacon and guiding light,
Till the world is an ocean of honest souls, and a mighty force for the right!
Friday, February 1, 2008
All These Things
Today's selection is one of my older poems, the earliest version dating back to college days. But the topic matter is timeless--especially to us natural worrywarts who, no matter how many catastrophes fail to materialize or how many needs are met, have to keep up a constant mental battle against the idea that every element of the universe is constantly waiting for its chance to ruin our lives.
However much we may want to blame the pressures of modern life, there was no shortage of such uneasiness in Jesus's day, judging from His famous "do not worry" passage in Matthew 6:25-33. Ironically, the same superior intelligence that allows humans to know God better than do any other creatures, feeds the worry that encourages us to doubt Him. "Dumb animals" never waste time fretting about anything apart from immediate concerns.
"Look at the birds," Jesus tells us. "Look at the wildflowers. They have all they need for life. Do you think your Father loves them and not you? Do you imagine He has less than your best interests at heart? You concentrate on the work of building His Kingdom, and leave the rest to Him."
That's good advice for anyone in any age.
Oh, look at the flowers abloom on that hill,
That bright splash of color that gives us a thrill.
They don't give a thought to save money for clothes;
They just wait for God to provide them with those.
Oh, look at the birds soaring high in the air:
Where is their next meal coming from? They don't care:
They just go and eat when there rises the need,
For God will provide them with insect and seed.
Now look at the people all bustling about:
More often than not they just worry and pout.
"Will I find a new job?" "Will I have enough food?"
"Will anything ever work out for the good?"
How foolish we are, we who worry and fret,
Who doubt Him Who never has failed us as yet!
He cares for creation, from sky to the sod--
And we're the most precious creations of God!
However much we may want to blame the pressures of modern life, there was no shortage of such uneasiness in Jesus's day, judging from His famous "do not worry" passage in Matthew 6:25-33. Ironically, the same superior intelligence that allows humans to know God better than do any other creatures, feeds the worry that encourages us to doubt Him. "Dumb animals" never waste time fretting about anything apart from immediate concerns.
"Look at the birds," Jesus tells us. "Look at the wildflowers. They have all they need for life. Do you think your Father loves them and not you? Do you imagine He has less than your best interests at heart? You concentrate on the work of building His Kingdom, and leave the rest to Him."
That's good advice for anyone in any age.
Oh, look at the flowers abloom on that hill,
That bright splash of color that gives us a thrill.
They don't give a thought to save money for clothes;
They just wait for God to provide them with those.
Oh, look at the birds soaring high in the air:
Where is their next meal coming from? They don't care:
They just go and eat when there rises the need,
For God will provide them with insect and seed.
Now look at the people all bustling about:
More often than not they just worry and pout.
"Will I find a new job?" "Will I have enough food?"
"Will anything ever work out for the good?"
How foolish we are, we who worry and fret,
Who doubt Him Who never has failed us as yet!
He cares for creation, from sky to the sod--
And we're the most precious creations of God!
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