Even If i Walk Alone

Instructing and encouraging you to live your life as a disciple of Jesus

priorities

In This Season

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I am often compelled to pray prayers of gratitude in the morning as I reflect on all the blessings in my life. One of the main triggers for me is a warm shower. It is at once soothing and invigorating, yet I am reminded of all those who don’t have warm water or any water at all. We often take such simple luxuries for granted. Last week as I was thanking God for His kind provision, I was moved to add the words “in this season” to my prayer. Instead of saying, “Thank you for the warm water you have provided for me”, my prayer became, “Thank you for the warm water you have provided for me in this season.” The change was subtle, but both freeing and eye-opening. It added a lack of permanence to the blessing. I actually became more grateful as I understood that at this time in my life I have been blessed with warm, running water. Tomorrow may be different; tomorrow I may find myself in a situation where I do not have such a luxury. By praying, “in this season”, I believe that should I find myself without this particular blessing in the future, I can look back on this time with a sense of sincere gratitude rather than a sorrowful longing over what I have lost.

I think it’s easy for us, particularly we who live in the West, to assume we will always have at least what we have today. Ours is a society that has been marked by consistent improvement throughout our history. But today is no guarantee of tomorrow (Proverbs 27:1); life can change in an instant for any of us through a variety of events or circumstances. The key then is to learn to be content in all situations, just as the apostle Paul learned to be (Philippians 4:11-13). By being thankful for what we have been entrusted with “in this season”, we can hold loosely to it, realizing the temporary nature of all earthly blessings. When we move into a more difficult period of life, we can then find things for which we are thankful in that season as well as joyfully reminisce about the good things we have been allowed to experience in seasons past.

When we assume that all we have today we will have forever, it becomes easy to take those things for granted. This makes us somewhat arrogant, because we come to expect that which God has elected to give us as a blessing. It becomes easy to lose sight of why we are blessed and who has blessed us. At that moment we are not only ungrateful, but we are also becoming prideful. All of this is in stark contrast to the person God calls us to be. Instead, we should humble ourselves to the point of being overwhelmed by everything He has entrusted to us. As we recognize the various blessings we have in the current season of our lives, we can better see how to share those blessings with others who are in different seasons.

Holding loosely to luxuries is a wonderful experience. No longer are we afraid to lose that which we cannot keep. Instead we become joyful for being able to experience it for the moment; we become aware of and thankful for the privilege. A heart that holds tightly to Christ and Christ alone is a heart that He can use for His glory. As long as we remain unaware of His blessings, our heart remains hard and our hands remain closed. God desires tender hearts and open hands so that they might be shaped for His glory and used to further His Kingdom.

I encourage you to begin being thankful for things “in this season”. In the same way recognize that the struggles you are going through are also only “in this season”. Earthly struggles and triumphs are always temporary, and both are necessary to refine us into the people we have been created to be. Thank Him for the blessings He has provided in this season of your life, as well as for walking with you through the trials you are experiencing in this season. As you develop a temporal view of earthly matters, you will come to further appreciate the eternal perspective of Heavenly affairs. All that we experience in life is for the ultimate aim of carrying on the mission of Jesus Christ. We can all be used in this season if we will only surrender everything to Him. Hold loosely to the things of this earth and cling tightly to the one who is Truth and Life. Live in gratitude with a thankful heart and the realization of what you have been given. All we experience can and should be used for His glory. Take nothing for granted, but rather live each moment in humble awe of what He is doing through you. Be thankful for the blessings you have been given in this season.

Becoming Who You Were Created to Be

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As we stare down the end of the year, it’s worth reflecting on how we’ve grown over the past eleven months. Are we becoming the person we were intended to be? In what ways have we noticed a maturing in our faith and in our love for God? We should never stop growing, never stop striving to become more and more like Jesus. If this past year didn’t bring the growth we expected or the maturity we desired, now is a great time to start figuring out how to have better results next year.

Goal setting has long been a tenant of the personal development crowd, but I think it also serves Christ followers well to set some goals in their spiritual life. Who were you created to be? What were you created to do? What is the difference between the answers to those questions and where you now find yourself? This is an excellent first step in setting some goals. If you were to be all that Christ intended you to be, what kind of person would you have to become? In what sort of activities would you engage? What kind of books would you read and what sort of words would you speak? Before you can become the person you were created to be, you need a clear picture of what that person looks like. Once you have that picture you can set goals that will mold your personality into the proper character. Becoming who God purposed you to be will usually not be an overnight transformation. In most cases, it will be a process of single steps compounded over time.

After getting clear about the kind of person you must become, the next step is to understand what actions you were created to accomplish. What sort of skills and talents do you possess? Are you an artist, a caregiver, a compassionate person, a good listener, a strong leader or patient teacher? This is a very short piece of an almost infinite list of gifts and capabilities. What is it that you are really good at, what attributes and abilities have you been given? If you are not currently making use of the talents God has entrusted to you, this is another great place to come up with some goals. What could you do next year that you have neglected to do this year? How could you make better use of your skills and expertise? If you are currently using your gifts for causes other than to further the Kingdom, in what ways could you begin to transition your work into something that reflects and honors God? What is it you have been putting off and can now determine to take action upon in the coming year? Don’t take the time to edit, but rather write down everything that comes to mind.

Once you have listed all the ways you can utilize your abilities for Christ, it’s time to whittle the list down into perhaps twelve specific goals (one for each month) for the new year. Compare your list with the picture of the person you wish to become. What items on your list would that person undertake? Picture yourself as the person God intended you to be and choose goals that you can envision that person achieving. Write everything down. Written goals are powerfully motivating. You can reference them regularly to remind yourself what you have determined to do. Make sure you review them no less than once every week. Commit your goals to memory; post them on your bathroom mirror or on the dashboard of your car, anywhere you will frequently see them and be reminded of the person you are becoming.

By visualizing the person you were created to become in Christ and carefully determining specific, measurable goals for your journey, you will be well on your way to exponential growth in the coming year. All of this must be done with a heavy dose of prayer. Ask God to show you who He wants you to become. Seek His wisdom in determining what He would have you to do. Knowing that He will provide the power behind our meager offerings is an invigorating and motivating force. We can become the person He sees in us; we can accomplish great work for His Kingdom. Don’t let another year go by without the growth that you desire. Tell God that this year you are going “all in”, and diligently follow your plan to do so. Take the time to set your spiritual goals now. Persist in achieving each of your goals. God delights in those who seek Him and He will help you every step of the way.

The Root of Sin

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Recently Daron Earlewine, one of the pastors at the fellowship I attend (East 91st Street Christian Church), made the statement that the root of all sin is discontent and ingratitude. The more I considered that thought, the more I became convinced that he is right. How sad this is in our privileged and comfortable lifestyle in the Western world. You would think that we, more than any other people, would be ridiculously grateful for the country in which we were born and for the privileges afforded to us. Beyond that, as Christians it is hard to imagine not being eternally thankful for the sacrifice of God’s Son and for the opportunity to serve Him with every breath of our lives. Since we all still engage in sinful behavior, we are faced with the reality that despite all our blessings, we continue to live a life of discontent and ingratitude.

Why are we discontent? What is it that we wish we had that we perceive to be lacking? Most who read this blog are from countries that have at least a modicum of freedom; they aren’t destitute and in all probability are extremely well off compared to the majority of people on the planet. Yet we are discontent and want more; more money, more recognition and more stuff. We live as if everything revolved around us rather than around the one we call Lord of our life. Jesus is more than enough for any of us. He provides love beyond measure, rest when we are weary, and peace for our troubled hearts. If we place our trust in Him, faithfully serve Him and do what He commands us to do, He will reward us with eternal life spent with Him. What part of that equation is unappealing? What more could we want? Still, we trade eternal perfection for temporal imperfection every day, simply because we are too selfish and immature to defer our own selfish gratification. Herein lies our sin; we refuse to honor God by giving our lives to His service and living as Jesus did. We sin because we are infantile and refuse to grow, content to wallow in our selfish pursuit of fleeting pleasure.

Our discontent is easily, though inexplicably, identified; but what about our sense of ingratitude? Why do we who have so much for which to be thankful, languish in a life of bitterness and delusion? We are blessed beyond measure yet live as if we deserve everything we have, and in fact, deserve more. We take for granted those things that have been entrusted to us and find no joy in our journey. Instead of being thankful for the good things that come into our lives, we remain cynical and watch for the other shoe to drop. Rather than accepting a gracious compliment, we seek to uncover an ulterior motive. Cynicism steals our satisfaction and drains all comfort from our life. We become jaded to the beauty that surrounds us and fail to see the wonder of creation. Bitterness invades our relationships and soon we lose what we once loved most. A person who refuses to be thankful for what they have ends up broken and alone; this is not the life God intends for us to live.

As Christ-followers our goal is to eliminate the sin from our lives. It is a daunting task that we cannot even approach without the power of God. Knowing the root of sin should help us break it down a bit and determine strategies for dealing with our rebellion. Don’t be discontent with all the blessings in your life. Recognize all you have been given for your pleasure and to use for the glory of God. Don’t wish for more of what this world can offer; desire more of what Jesus can give. Be thankful for everything He has done for you, the beauty of His creation and the enormity of His love. If you practice thankfulness in your life you will find it nearly impossible to be discontent. Simply put, gratitude trumps discontent, and contentment eliminates ingratitude. At its root, our sin problem is an attitude issue. Practice being thankful and you will find your walk with Christ both satisfying and fulfilling. Jesus gives us everything we need to passionately pursue Him and further His mission. Always be mindful of what He has done for you and all He has entrusted to you. Watch out for the root of all sin; guard your attitude against discontentment and ingratitude.

Dine In USA

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The very good folks over at “Here’s Life Inner City” ministry are sponsoring the “Dine In Campaign” this holiday season. The premise is very simple. Pick a day (or days) that you would normally eat out, and stay home instead. Instead of spending money at the restaurant, donate what you would have spent to buy a Thanksgiving meal for a poor family in America. For $36.71 you can feed a family of six this holiday season. Instead of facing another year around an empty table, your sacrifice will provide a wonderful meal for an entire family. “Here’s Life Inner City” is using the donations to pack up meals in “Love Boxes” to send to their ministry partners across the nation to feed those in need this season. I highly encourage you to consider taking part in this campaign. This is a very tangible way to be the hands and feet of Jesus and to follow His command to feed the hungry and care for the poor. Click here to donate or learn more.

We can all sacrifice a meal out so that someone else might experience a dinner they would otherwise never be able to afford. Imagine the smiles and full stomachs provided from your simple act of service. Instead of spending on ourselves, let’s give of what we’ve been blessed with to care for another. I am excited to participate in the campaign and to share it with you as well. We talk so much here about sacrifice and caring for the needs of others, and often people ask what they can do and wonder how they can demonstrate Christ’s love to the poor. The “Dine In Campaign” is a great start, a wonderful opportunity to walk as Jesus walked and to touch those he touched.

The poor always held a special place in the heart of Jesus, so we also must be moved with compassion toward those less fortunate than we are. It is so easy to get caught up in the preparation and festivities of the season. Don’t become so busy that you lose focus of the mission. Satan delights in using good things to steer us off course. If he can distract us with the business of the holidays he will have succeeded in turning our eyes from the poor and those in need, both here at home and around the world. For literally billions of people, this time of year holds no sense of celebration. They are too busy simply trying to survive. They are hard at work scrounging for food and dealing with illnesses caused from drinking filthy and contaminated water. We must be careful not to pause in our efforts in continuing the mission of Jesus during this time of the year.

As you are reminded of the things for which you are thankful, remember those who lack hope and are mired in poverty. If we have something for which to be thankful, then we have something which can be shared. Not long after Thanksgiving we will celebrate the greatest gift in the history of mankind, the gift of Jesus. We must see that the gift of God’s Son continues to be spread to those who have not yet heard. We must not relax our efforts to go into the entire world, telling them about Jesus, and serving them in their need. This is the mission Christ entrusted to those who would follow Him and we must not relax our fervor or determination simply because of the holiday season. Indeed, the holidays should inspire us to do more, not less.

This year, consider spending your money and effort on those who truly are in need. Give to the poor, spend time with the outcast and touch the untouchable. This season is a time of great distress and depression for so many as they are reminded of what they lack. May we not be so absorbed with what we have that we neglect the poorest of the poor. Let us endeavor to serve them in humility, love and friendship. Jesus demands nothing less of us. Pray to ache as He does over the plight of the poor. Thank Him for your blessings and then share all you can with someone in need. Make this holiday season a season of service. The smiles you encounter will be those of Jesus Himself as you carry out His work on earth.

Making the Big Decisions

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The biggest decision you will ever make in your life is whether or not to become a follower of Jesus. Beyond this, everything else trivially pales. Still, we will face many difficult choices throughout our lives. How can we be certain we are making the correct decision? Asking whether or not we are making the right choice is the wrong question; we should be most concerned with whether or not we are making a wise choice. The Bible tells us to ask for wisdom, and this is what is genuinely needed most when determining what we should do. We should seek the counsel of others, trusted individuals who have walked the path before us and have experience in the matters we are dealing with. Don’t ask broke people for financial advice or a single person for marital advice. You need to inquire of people who have been where we are and successfully navigated the storms in order to benefit from their experiences. Pray diligently for wisdom and peace concerning your decision. You may not ever hear a definite, unmistakable answer in your heart; but then again you just might! The Holy Spirit works within each believer to prompt us in the way we should go. We simply need to learn to be still and receptive to His leading. Ask others to pray on your behalf as well. Joining together in prayer around a common issue is powerful and one of the great and thrilling mysteries of God.

God created us as agents of free will. He has bestowed on us the honor and privilege of making our own choices. While there are certainly times in life where it would be great to just throw up our hands and have God make the decision for us, we recognize that life would be far less exciting if everything were dictated by someone else. Even though we are free to choose which direction we will go, we must realize that the path that leads to Christ is always the one we should take. Every decision has some spiritual element to it. We need to ask ourselves which choice will lead us closer to God, reflect His glory, or serve someone else in love. Learning to consider our choices in life through this spiritual lens will assist in making decisions far easier. If the choice in question involves money, which outcome will result in you being a better steward of God’s resources? If the decision is about a commitment of time, which choice will allow you to best utilize the number of hours to be spent doing kingdom work? When deciding between two potential job offers, determine which position will allow you to make a bigger impact in the lives of others for Christ. Again, every decision has a spiritual element. It is very important that we take the time to discover the implications of each choice in regards to our commitment to follow Jesus. The wise decision will always be the one that best positions us to serve others with the love of Christ. It may require temporary sacrifice, but it will reap eternal rewards.

We tend to get caught up in how our decisions affect us here and now in this present world. Instead, we should learn to make choices based on their effect in God’s eternal kingdom. This will remove much of the stress and trepidation we feel when faced with monumental decisions. It should never be about how choices will affect our own lives, but rather how they will affect the lives of those we are called to serve. Pray for wisdom and seek the counsel of others. Look at each choice through a spiritual lens; what makes the most sense for promoting the kingdom of God and His glory? Once we take the focus off of ourselves, the big decisions in life seem far smaller and we are able to move forward, confident that we are following in the footsteps of Jesus.