Discipleship Network Forum

As every student of history knows, America was in crisis in 1863. Despite Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation to free the slaves in January of that year, the Civil War raged on, with no end in sight.

Today America is in crisis again, even though the symptoms aren’t yet as obvious. And while presidential candidates promise to “make America great again,” they offer solutions that fail to recognize what made America great in the first place. Their faulty premise is that greatness will return if we have better trade deals, more jobs, a more equitable tax structure, or a stronger military.

We can argue about whether such things are an improvement. But none of them will make America great again.

In stark contrast to what is being promised today, on March 30, 1863, Abraham Lincoln issued a presidential proclamation “Appointing a Day of National Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer.” Calling the nation to repentance and a spiritual awakening, he pointed to our need for God’s grace and favor. In support of this, he paraphrased Psalm 33:12, saying, “Those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord”:

Whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord…

We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!

It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness…

All this being done, in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in the hope authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the Nation will be heard on high, and answered with blessings, no less than the pardon of our national sins, and the restoration of our now divided and suffering Country, to its former happy condition of unity and peace.

Whether you’re a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or follower of some other political philosophy, I hope you will grasp the power of Lincoln’s message. We need more than better politicians or better policies. We need a spiritual awakening that begins with you and me.  

In addition to Abraham Lincoln’s diagnosis of our need for national repentance and revival, the words of nineteenth-century historian Alexis de Tocqueville are amazingly prophetic today: “America is great because she is good. If America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.”

Forgive us, Lord.

"Phinehas, son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites by displaying passionate zeal among them on my behalf." (Numbers 25:11 NLT)

Christians should be zealous for heaven’s sake. Zeal without knowledge is a runaway horse; on the other hand, knowledge without zeal is a dead horse. A live wire improperly grounded and insulated is dangerous; but a dead wire cannot conduct light, heat, or energy. Immobility gets people nowhere. Indifference makes God want to vomit. Sincere faith does more than just fill our mind with ideas—it permits God’s ideas to possess our mind. Opinions, like suitcases, can be carried around and easily set aside; but convictions carry us around. If we let the Holy Spirit Dynamo stir our soul to live passionately, some people may ridicule our goings-on and label us fanatics; but we should not let our critics’ lack of excitement stifle ours. It’s time we quit sleeping in! It’s time we listened to heaven’s wake-up call! It’s time we let the Fire in our heart melt the lead in our feet! Loving the Lord with all our mind will keep us awake.

Christians should be zealous for holiness’ sake. We should never imitate Balaam, who was more interested in money than mission. We should refuse to emulate Zimri, who flagrantly violated God’s orders and disregarded His law. It would be foolish to copy the Israelites by allowing ourselves to be seduced by the Devil’s wiles, compromise with culture, descend sin’s slippery slope, and commit spiritual prostitution. It is the highest wisdom to submit to our Sovereign Lord and let Him change the way we think so we can transcend the slavish thinking of majority opinion. If we are like Phinehas, we will be like God—hating sin. Inspired by the indwelling Holy Spirit, we will run from half-heartedness. Serving the King of kings, we will avoid laziness and whistle while we work. Loving the Lord with all our strength will keep us busy.

Christians should be zealous for God’s honor. His Presence within creates enthusiasm without. Burning and shining lights never turn into icicles. An inner Flame blazing within our heart glows on our face, makes us intensely alive, and motivates our good works. We should not make mediocre plans—we should aim for the stars! Loving the Lord with all our soul will keep us excited.

Christians should be zealous for God’s house. Jesus got angry at sin—so should we. Passion for the Temple caused him to bound loan sharks from the vestibule of his Father’s house turned shopping mall and unplug their cash registers. We should expel everything from our inner being inappropriate for one named after Christ. We should upend shiny, reflective tables of narcissism. Loving the Lord with all our heart, we will keep on.

Johnny R. Almond

Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church - Friends on a Journey of Faith

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity-Scripture Personalized

http://GentleWhispersFromEternity--ScripturePersonalized.com/

This devotional based on day 89 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity

If you’re feeling disillusioned today, you should be thankful. Why? Because disillusionment is an essential part of coming to terms with reality, which is the only way your life can be transformed.

We all need to be dis-illusioned from time to time—because that means being freed from our illusions. Dictionaries define an “illusion” as “a false mental image produced by misinterpretation of things that actually exist.” Until disillusionment has occurred in our lives, we’re walking in unreality, unable to experience authentic vision.

If you’re honest, you’ll admit that you’ve faced various kinds of disillusionment at one time or another in your life. Perhaps you’ve found yourself disillusioned about the goodness of humanity...the “happily ever after” of your marriage vows…your success as a parent…or God’s desire and ability to work out all things for your good. Or maybe you’ve been disillusioned about the Lord’s promises to heal you sicknesses or provide for your financial needs.

Jesus’ death on the cross was the most disillusioning event in history. His closest followers were devastated. After having high expectations during His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (John 12:12-19), a week later they were hiding out in a locked room for fear of the Jews (John 20:19). Peter and some of the other disciples even sought comfort in turning back to their old occupation of fishing (John 21).

The pain of disillusionment can also be felt in the words of the two disciples walking to Emmaus: “We were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21). Perhaps there was something that you too “were hoping” that failed to come to pass in the way you expected. Your “hoped deferred” has made you heartsick (Proverbs 13:12). But if so, be on the alert—Jesus may be right there walking with you at the very moment you’re complaining that He’s abandoned you.

God, in His painful mercy, will often strip us of false expectations. The disillusioned disciples couldn’t point to any promise Jesus failed to keep. Instead, their disappointment was rooted in their false belief that He would overthrow the Romans and set up an earthly kingdom. Until we are stripped of our own dreams, God can’t give us His dreams—which are far better!

God shakes our false hopes so He can give us a hope that cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:26), hope that serves as an “anchor for the soul” (Hebrews 6:19). Not only do the times of testing reveal our faulty belief systems, they also prove the faithfulness of the “heavenly vision” we have been truly given by God (Acts 26:19).

Disillusioned Dreamers

The pages of Scripture are filled with examples of men and women of God who had great vision, yet faced times of severe disillusionment. Moses, David, and Elijah were among those who evidenced great depression and discouragement.

Jeremiah once accused God of being unreliable and of deceiving him (Jeremiah 15:18). At another point he was so tired of persecution that he declared he would no longer speak the word of the Lord (Jeremiah 20:7-9).

John the Baptist had boldly declaring that Jesus was the lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). But he became so discouraged in his prison cell that he questioned whether Jesus was truly the Messiah or not: “Are you really the one we are waiting for, or shall we keep on looking?” (Matthew 11:3 TLB)

These examples illustrate an important lesson: If you’ve been disillusioned, you’re in good company! Disillusionment was experienced by David, Elijah, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Jesus’ disciples—and probably every Christian who has ever lived.

Recovering from Disillusionment

Although the Lord can dramatically appear and erase our discouragement in a moment, He often chooses to use a process. If you are currently facing the dark night of disillusionment, here are some important lessons that can speed your recovery:

      1. Recognize disillusionment’s inevitability. You might as well not take your situation personally, for this is a condition that everyone will face.

      2. Recognize disillusionment’s benefits. Since disillusionment is actually just the process of being delivered from our illusions, you might as well start thanking God instead of being mad at Him. Be glad that you’re being stripped of your illusions, because the truth will set you free (John 8:32).

      3. Repent of the false beliefs (illusions) that have caused your disillusionment. The entire book of Job deals with the painful process by which Job was set free from false beliefs. Often our illusions affect a few key areas of our life:

• Illusions regarding God. These illusions tend to be one of two faulty extremes: seeing God as our Heavenly Butler instead of our Heavenly Father; or seeing Him as a cruel taskmaster who is never satisfied with us or others.
• Illusions regarding the Christian life or the church. Many people still cling to the clearly erroneous view that if we really exercise faith in God, we can cruise through life with no problems. And much of the disillusionment among Christians stems from illusions they once had about how loving, sincere, and holy other believers would be.
• Illusions regarding ourselves. If we don’t recognize the depravity of our hearts apart from God’s grace (Jeremiah 17:9), it will be a rude awakening when we finally face the truth of our fallen condition.

Even though God wants to deliver us from our illusions, He certainly does not want us to stop dreaming big dreams of faith. While illusions are false beliefs—idols of our own making—dreams of faith are God-inspired vision. Such dreams are an indispensable trait of any successful endeavor.

When are you too old to dream such dreams? Never! God promises, “In the last days...your young men shall see visions. Your old men shall dream dreams” (Acts 2:17). This should be an incredible encouragement to us to never quit dreaming, for even old people are supposed to have dreams. Rather than becoming cynical as we age, God wants us to gain ever-increasing faith and vision.

Yes, our aspirations and hopes may be stripped for a time. We may well face the “death of a vision” we felt was from the Lord. Yet God is a God of resurrection. Even as He allows us to pass through the Valley of Disillusionment, it’s all part of His process to raise up an army of dreamers, not afraid to dream dreams and take bold steps of faith to extend His kingdom.

The pain of disillusionment can be replaced with a tidal wave of joy. How do I know? Because “weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:5). If you’re currently experiencing a dark night of disillusionment, it doesn’t have to last forever. Joy is on the way!

Numerous times I find truth in a statement shared by a friend. Occasionally, I find humor in a comment made by a friend. Sometime, I find both truth and humor in the same quote. It happened recently with an anonymous quote posted on Facebook: “Make a decision. The road of life is paved with flat squirrels who couldn’t make a decision.” Anyone who has driven Texas highways and backroads as I have, understands the meaning of the reference. Granted the image is a bit gross, but shockingly sobering. Decisions must be made. While thoughtful analysis must precede every decision, it need not be unduly prolonged. The most important decision in life is, “What then shall I do with Jesus, who is called Christ” (Matthew 27:22)? Further emphasizing the importance of making clear, firm decisions is the passage from James, “Let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No” (James 5:12). Peter Drucker’s quote about business could be said of life in general, “Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision.” Not all decisions will be popular, but better to make a correct unpopular decision than to stall too long, and become a “flat squirrel.”

What I learned from the worst prison in Mexico:

My dear Mexican pastor friend Emilio Beltran (who has lived in the most notorious prison in Mexico for the past 6 years) handed me two Mustard Seed Foundation grant applications while we were meeting together in Reclusorio Oriente prison last month. I work for this Foundation, seeking out projects that we can fund to help new evangelism, discipleship, and economic development projects in the world’s megacities.

One application is from the church planted outside the prison walls last December, and another is from the collective of 11 congregations (one in each of the massive cell blocks in the prison) Emilio has planted inside the prison since last February.

Since my visit into the prison with Emilio I have had a month of back and forth with the lead pastor of the new church on the outside, who has taken my questions back to Emilio inside the prison for answers, and sent the answers back to me by email.

The MSF Board will decide on these two grant applications: Adulam Reclusorio (prison) and Adulam Contreras (outside the prison) at the next Board Meeting in April. The grant application from inside Reclusorio Oriente is the first grant application MSF has ever received which were written from inside a prison by inmates.

You would love the listing of the Adulam Reclusorio’s elder board called “ Men of the Table”:

• Oscar has served 8 months of a 6 year sentence for aggravated domestic violence with injury 
• Juan has served 8 years of a 40 year sentence for kidnapping
• David has served 1.5 years of a 9 year sentence for attempted murder
• Moises has served 6 years of a 37 year sentence for murder 
• Juan Carlos Fortin Moreno has served 2 years of a 9 year sentence for sexual assault of children and trafficking
• Carlos has served 5 years of a 7.5 sentence for kidnapping and extortion
• Jorge has served 2 years of an 8 year sentence for grand theft
• Luis has served 5 years of a 20 year sentence for attempted murder

And my dear brother Emilio. He has served 5 years of a 137 year sentence (reduced to 23 years) on three charges: Corruption of minors (sexually assaulting children); Child slavery (using children as workers for personal profit); and Organized crime (conspiracy by all the Adulam Casa de Refugio orphanage staff). Emilio is in prison because of a conspiracy between corrupt pastors, Congressmen, Judges, and the Attorney General (now the Mayor of Mexico City).

The first grant application is asking for a one-time grant to help establish the new church in the Contreras District of Mexico City. This church was started last December. The congregation is made up of recovering addicts, homeless, orphans and ex-convicts that found Christ and were mentored by Emilio while incarcerated. It meets under a tarp in the outdoor ‘garden area' of a rented social/nightclub on Sunday mornings.

The second application is from the prison church and asks for a one-time award to help establish a creative workshop in the prison so that the men with a natural gift in art can begin making crafts for sale inside and outside the prison. This workshop will fully employ more than 25 men by the end of this calendar year, provide for the ‘taxes’ required by the church to hold services in the prison, and buy more materials to expand the workshop.

The Mustard Seed Foundation requires a match of money given by a local congregation in the neighborhood of ministry in order to receive our funding.

These two grant applications do not ask the MSF to match the giving of wealthy donors or megachurches from the USA.

Instead the Foundation will be asked to match the giving from the tithes and offerings of the congregation itself: the men trapped inside one of the worst prisons in Latin America for the craft project; and ex-convicts, mentally ill, addicts, and their families on the outside for the first new church outside the prison.

At first glance one might think this to be impossible or even stupid.

But the truth is the men inside this prison tithe and give offerings each day for the work of the Gospel in the prison. They have come to live with the understanding that nothing they own belongs to them.

Whatever they do have is freely shared with the rest of the brothers so that those that do not have anything to give can survive for that very day. As in other prison churches I have visited in Latin America, the members of this church tithe above 50% of all they have. If this sounds familiar in some remote way it is because it mirrors the way the first church tithed as recorded in the New Testament record in Acts Chapter 2, verses 42 - 47.

Some of the men in this church have family members close by who come to visit and give gifts for the men to sell inside the prison. These fortunate enough for such gifts been able to start a small business inside the prison selling socks, pencils, gum, or other trinkets, so they can afford food, clothing, and the 'street taxes' (bribes) required just to exist in this hell hole.

Now imagine a church that meets in this hell that has 12 worship services each day, while surrounded by drug dealing, prostitution, and violent assault happening just a few feet from the tarp under which the Adulam Reclusorio congregation gathers.

• Imagine an entire congregation in Bible study, discipleship, and worship every day.
• Imagine prayer vigils that last the night in bug and rat infested cells where 26 men are pushed into a space designed for 6.
  
• Imagine convicted murders and rapists sharing their food with each other as they eat together as a new family. 
• Try to imagine a baptism service, where the men being baptized hop into a repurposed oil drum and are dunked straight down into really cold brackish water.
• Imagine the men accepting their prison sentence as an opportunity to focus on the important things of life, how to honor God.
• Imagine men who from the margins of society entering into a 5, 10, 15 year discipleship training course under the leadership of one of this world’s greatest pastors who just happens to be an inmate suffering right along with the other church members.
• Imagine the leaders being formed in this prison that have the attitude of “If I can be reborn and thrive in a hell hole like this, watch what happens when I am released from prison!”
• Imagine each released inmate being sent to Adulam Contreras Church as a church planting intern. He will submit to the leaders of Contreras (90% of whom are former inmates themselves) as he serves the homeless, mentally ill and addicted people in the congregation.
• Imagine when these ex-cons are deemed ready to set out and plant another new church, not being sent out alone as often happens in the US, but with a team of likewise broken and crushed men who have been rebuilt into fearless and bold new leaders.
• Imagine an imprisoned pastor being held illegally by corrupt government officials tell you with a straight face, “This is how we will plant 50 new churches by the end of 2017. And by the end of 2020 we will have planted 200 new churches all over Mexico City. And our churches will welcome the mentally ill, homeless, orphan, widow, addicted, and ex-felons….And our churches will be filled with people that know how to tithe!” The plan is that all of these new churches will have the DNA of the Contreras Church.
• Imagine visiting these men in prison and receiving bone crushing hugs and tearful kisses that are so intense that the non-church member inmates watching this shameless display of affection start shouting “Hey get a room!”
• Imagine each Adulam church filled with poor broken people who tithe, not out of their excess like we do (if we even bother to tithe) here in the US, but out of deep poverty, like the early Churches did as recorded in 2 Corinthians 8:1-4

Tragically I cannot imagine a Bible believing church in the US that comes anywhere near the tithing like these convicts who freely tithe more than half of all they own with great joy.

I cannot imagine a church planting movement that is not asking for millions of USD as church planting movements in the US are asking for. These two grant applications are asking for one-time donations totaling less than $15,000 

I cannot imagine more than a handful of churches in the US that have an open heart for those on the margins of society.

If God can do wonders through a group of broken men like this, imagine what God could do through a broken mess like you and me.

Happy Easter 

Brian Bakke 

“God is not a man, that he should lie. He is not human, that he should change his mind. Has he ever spoken, and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through”  [Numbers 23:19 NLT]

I’m sure you’ve noticed that our wordy world is filled with many basically meaningless messages. Media verbiage is rampant 24/7. God has the Word we really need—creative, illuminating, forgiving, gracious, and authentic.

In contrast to human dishonesty, God is the heart of reality. We cannot depend on erroneous proclamations, but the Book from Heaven is our lodestar. Grass of popular opinion withers, and flowers of human insight fade, but God’s Textbook never needs revising. Galaxies will melt into nothingness on Judgment Day, but timeless lessons are here to stay. God is not just talking—He means every word He says. The Bible is more than words—it is eternal wisdom. There is more than grammar in the Spirit-breathed book—God is between the lines. The Bible is the only book whose Author is always present when we read it. As we draw near God’s heart—searching beyond paper and ink and syllables—we can sense His Presence. To live honestly, we must always tell the truth.

Unlike human deviation, God is the God of fidelity. We cannot depend on elusive philosophical ponderings, but God’s predetermined thoughts are absolutely reliable. God Will Always Be Who He Has Always Been—He has always loved us, and He always will. To live decisively, we must quit wavering back and forth and make up our mind to believe God’s Word and honor Him with every dimension of  our life.

Different from human declination, God is the God of follow-through. We cannot depend on evasive plans, but God’s decreed transaction is our final and absolute answer. God never speaks without acting. To live truthfully, we must follow through on our word—doing what we say we will do.

In distinction from human deception, God is the God of the future. We cannot depend on empty pledges, but God’s destined time is our complete assurance. God’s invisible clock keeps perfect time—Truth will materialize when He landscapes earth with righteousness. False advertising disappoints, but God is our Trustworthy Anchor, brightening the future. The Living God has spoken in the Bible; He means every word He says, and He will keep every promise. To live purposefully, we must make our devotion more than words.

Johnny R. Almond

Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church - Friends on a Journey of Faith

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity—Scripture Personalized

http://GentleWhispersFromEternity--ScripturePersonalized.com/

This devotional based on day 88 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity

There the Israelites sang this song: “Spring up, O well! Yes, sing about it!”  (Numbers 21:17 NLT)

Ancient Hebrews were healed by a trusting look at a stinging serpent on a pole—we journey toward real life as we gaze in faith at God’s Son on a cross. If we get depressed and impatient because of life’s difficult score, our Savior teaches us how to sing. Jesus is our Salvation from sin, our Strength for the struggle, and our Song in sadness.

Whatever our situation, we are never in a God-forsaken place! We can sing even in the desert if we delight in the Master of Melody. The Lord satisfies our soul with a perpetual spring of joy even if we should feel like hanging up our harp.

The world cannot match heaven’s sweet air. The siren song of transient pleasures cannot compare to the symphony of infinite joy. The Holy Spirit in our innermost being inspires a rousing victory march. In God’s perfect timing, we will join in an international praise song to the King of the universe—until then, we can stay in step with the Spirit cadence with an optimistic spring in our step. We are dust, but God is Infinite Power—we will not fall out of the ranks if we depend on the Almighty to reinforces us to battle sin and win. Marching in Christ’s triumphal procession, we are honored to sing a glorious strain in harmony with the church triumphant.

The Lord composes a brand new chorus for us every morning. By grace, we can sing out a fresh carol in His honor each day we live—offering an original and creative melody to our listening audience. There is no reason we should ever communicate boredom with a repetitive singsong chant.

Our Father’s promises compose a visionary anthem that sustains us in chaos and loneliness. The keynote of heaven’s hopeful music inspires nocturnal melodies. In the shadowlands of time, we listen for the melody of eternity—banking on God’s promise of heaven on earth materializing at sunrise.

Fear cannot mute grace notes written in our heart by faith. In anxiety-producing circumstances, God’s unfailing care sings a ballad of courage to our soul. In discord, God’s calming peace is our Background Music. In overwhelming responsibilities, the Lord hums a heavenly tune in our ear so we can keep calm and carry on. How can we keep from singing? 

Johnny R. Almond

Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church - Friends on a Journey of Faith

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity—Scripture Personalized

http://GentleWhispersFromEternity--ScripturePersonalized.com/

This devotional based on day 87 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity

“You will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea.”  (Numbers16:28 NIV)

Our idea is prestige, but God has a better idea—purpose.  By providential brush strokes, God is painting a masterpiece on the canvas of our circumstances to unveil His grace to the world. With heaven’s help, we can put spiritual adolescence behind us, refuse to be treated as Egypt’s adopted child, and grow up.

Our idea is sinning for pleasure’s sake, but God has a better idea—suffering for His Name’s sake. It is foolish to revel in earth’s transient thrills; it is the highest wisdom to travel the harder, higher path. Christ agonized for us; so we should agonize for Him.

Our idea is accumulating more stuff, but God has a better idea—investing  in lasting treasures. Linking happiness to things is insane. Dividing allegiance between God and money is impossible.

Our idea is fear, but God has a better idea—faith. There is no need to tremble before the pharaoh of hell. We can exit Egypt and travel heavenward, persevering by focusing the eyes of our heart on the Invisible King. When storms rock our boat, we should not panic that we might drown—Jesus still  hushes the sea to sleep and calms frazzled nerves. The Spirit Wind will guide us to a tranquil harbor.

Our idea is selfishness, but God has a better idea—service. To be a star for Jesus, we must be a servant. To truly live, we must give.

Our idea is comfort, but God has a better idea—a caring heart. Emulating Christ’s example, we will live a life of love.

Our idea is carnality, but God has a better idea—Christlikeness. Hammer blows sculpt us into His image. Pain precedes perfection.

Our idea is materialism, but God has a better idea—mission. Regarding disgrace for the Messiah’s sake of greater value than Nile stock, we strike out for the desert with our heart set on the Promised Land.

With all our mind, we should learn God’s ideas. With all our soul, we should internalize God’s ideas. With all our heart, we should value God’s ideas. With all our strength, we should activate God’s ideas.

If we let God think His thoughts through us, our ideas will begin to look a little bit like His.

Pastor Johnny R. Almond

Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church - Friends on a Journey of Faith

This devotional is based on Day 86 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity

Blog http://GentleWhispersFromEternity--ScripturePersonalized

All of our lives, when lived rightly, are a journey into trust. A few days ago, I mentioned one prayer I’ve been repeatedly lifting up to God. In fact, there’s another particular prayer I’ve been praying for quite a while, and I think (and hope) that the development of this prayer has been reflected in these pages.

At first, and for a long time, it went like this: “Lord, help me to learn to trust you more deeply.” However, over the last several weeks, I’ve felt the need to add this: “…and to become more worthy of your trust.”

This is not about theology, so don’t go there. This is about relationship. I want to know God more deeply, but I have to allow him to know me more deeply. Again, suspend the theology; I know God knows me. And yet, I try to hide.

This journey into trust, however, requires me to stop hiding. It requires me to put my sin and my agenda and my fear away, so I can truly experience God’s knowing of me—that my relationship with God might be truly intimate and not just “all in order.”

The fact is, both parts of this prayer are flip sides of the same problem—there’s only one person in this equation who can’t be trusted. However, my own untrustworthiness feeds my inability to trust God. Only as I begin to obediently walk out what God’s commanded do I begin to, in turn, feel as if I can trust God with every part of my life. God doesn’t condemn me; he forgives me and wants me to be better.

This isn’t just for me. At the same time that I need to receive his grace, I need to extend it to others. I need to show genuine pity—not in the sense of “I feel sorry for you,” but in the sense of “I ache for you and want to help you.” Because that’s the kind of pity Jesus has shown to me.

As we’ve observed repeatedly this week, we know the way to where Jesus is going. It’s time to walk it out.

We are called to be a blessing to every person we meet, whether they realize it or not. The only way to become that blessing is to be emptied of our own stuff, so that God can fill and transform us into the individuals he has created us to be. Each of our lives need to move from being of Christ to being in Christ—and finally to the point where our life “is Christ” (Philippians 1:21, et al.).

Love is union—with Jesus and with those he’s called us to love. We as Christians—or, as C.S. Lewis put it, “little Christs”—are called to reconcile the world to God. We’re not just here waiting to be taken from the world, but to begin bringing a foretaste of the kingdom of heaven to the world now, even as we are “in the world but not of it” (see John 17:15–16).

We cannot change the things, or the opportunities, that we’ve lost, but we can be prepared to receive and walk in the new things God has created us to do. We are new creations. God is still creating something new within us. God wants to bring us into something new. But we must want what God wants—not just something new.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted…. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:1–3, 12–14).

One last thing to remember about walking: It’s not always exciting. Sometimes there are breathtaking vistas, and that great feeling of “a second wind.” Sometimes it’s monotonous. Sometimes it’s difficult. Often, it’s just plain tiring. But walking gets you somewhere. If we’re following Jesus, it’s somewhere better.

We can walk in the knowledge that tomorrow will be a good day—and that even if it’s not a good day, experientially speaking, God is working out the events of the day for our good (Romans 8:28). Because his good is our good.

The time to walk out our new lives in Christ is today. So let’s do it. And may God continue to bless you as you lay it all down again each day, for the sake of the One who laid down his life for us.

Lay It Down Today

We’ve approached your next steps from a variety of angles this week. Hopefully, at least one of these approaches has resonated with you. So now, it’s your turn.

If you sense what God is leading you into next, or know you’re already in the midst of it, spend time thanking God for the desire he’s given you, how he’s fulfilling it, and for the desire to keep moving forward. If not, spend time pursuing things with God. “[H]ow much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11).

Finally, spend some time thanking God for this journey into trust he’s taken you on over the last few months; and ask him to take you far beyond even where you are now—and into eternity with him.

“You must make tassels for the hems of your clothing and attach the tassels at each corner with a blue cord. The tassels will remind you of the commands of the Lord, and that you are to obey his commands instead of following your own desires and going your own ways as you are prone to do.”  (Numbers 15:38-39 NLT)

God encircles us with many object lessons designed to charm us to His side. If we are wise, we will pay close attention to the memos He posts:

The cross of Jesus—preaching heaven’s free pardon of our sins, singing of mercy in the maze, inspiring endurance when we are tempted to abandon our mission.

The Book from Heaven—jogging our mind to review our Master’s blueprint for life, raising sights above mundane trivia to eternal realities, keeping us from sin.

The Indwelling Holy Spirit in our heart—an Infallible, Built-in Guidance System to keep us on target morally.

Beautiful, magnificently designed earth, sun, moon, and stars—a billboard publicizing our Father’s sovereignty, awesome power, and loving care.

Our spouse and children—signs of God’s love, solving the problem of loneliness.

Challenges and responsibilities of our work—reminding us of Providence in guiding us into avenues of service honoring the Name above all names.

The church—a loving family, encouraging us to activate good deeds and avoid unholy living in light of Christ’s imminent return.

A table loaded with delicious food—illustrating God’s ability to always provide more than enough to meet our every need.

History—a rearview mirror reflecting tragic consequences of rebellion against God, chronicling Hebrew recalcitrance and prompting us to learn from their mistakes.

Heaven help us to see with our heart—so we can marvel at encompassing traces of grace from the God who loves us, go beyond pondering His memos to conscientiously follow His cues, avoid distraction by the ten thousand lures of the evil one, and stay faithful to the God we love.

Pastor Johnny R. Almond

Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church; Fredericksburg, Virginia  

This devotion based on Day 85 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity

Blog http://GentleWhispersFromEternity--ScripturePersonalized

Whatever we truly do for God, it is Christ in us. Whatever holiness we have is not ours to take credit for, but Christ’s to be glorified with. Even then, it is not what Christ does, but who Christ is—and how he is being formed in us.

Slowly, we are becoming the people God created us to be. Slowly, the new life Christ has in us is growing outward. However, it’s not all about waiting for things to happen. We can begin, even now, to put on our new identities in Christ, even as we wait to mature enough to “fill out the suit.”

In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going (John 14:2–4).

When we look to Jesus, we “know the way to where [he] is going,” and consciously turn ourselves in that direction. As we look to Jesus, we see One who “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7), but who nonetheless was in constant communion with God. It is simultaneously putting the flesh to death and living entirely for the Father. This can become our increasing reality—not perfectly, but intentionally, and progressively better. We position ourselves, we put on the new self that’s already ours—and as we do, the Spirit empowers us.

Because he is the New Man, Jesus looks at even the most common things in godly terms, and by doing so transforms them into lessons, parables, teaching instruments… temporal things capable of conveying eternal life. In doing so—and because we remain connected with him—he continually shows us how to follow him as human beings. We become people capable of conveying eternal life.

We are no longer—check that: never were—self-appointed experts, no matter what the world tells us. We are God’s children, whom God increasingly entrusts with the fullness of his life so that the other kids can see it. In the words of Thomas Merton, “We do not want to be beginners. But let us be convinced of the fact that we will never be anything else but beginners, all our life!”

There is so much God has for us next, and our perspective and our actions need to change to reflect that. We need to take those steps of faith that will allow the Spirit to change our perceptions and our actions—so that we faithfully and intentionally put ourselves in places where only God can work.

We have not been left alone to figure out how to follow him. “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning” (John 15:26–27).

It’s a common misconception that walking in the Spirit invites abuse. The fact is: It’s the counterfeits of walking in the Spirit that invite the abuse, not the real thing. If we are truly in Christ, it will be impossible to go out into left field. Christ takes care of us, and the Spirit “will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13).

When in doubt, give yourself this test: Is what I’m experiencing helping me love God more, and love others more—or just helping me to love myself and my experiences more?

Our new lives in Christ bear fruit by abiding, not merely by doing (John 15:4–10). We are to pass along the life God’s given us, in the ways he’s given it to us, not manufacture something “to please God”—which doesn’t. It’s possible that God will honor our intent, and yet the works themselves will be “wood, hay, straw… and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done” (1 Corinthians 3:12–13). Isn’t it better to pass on the things you know God’s given you?

Receive the new identity you’ve been given in Christ, and cover yourself in it like it’s armor—because it is. Then, get ready to walk forward.

Lay It Down Today

Take as long as you need for this one—it could be a minute; it could be an hour. But get somewhere quiet and repeat the following to yourself: “I am in Christ, and Christ is in me.” Allow some silence between each repetition, but keep repeating this truth until it sinks in.

Then, once you’re “there,” ask yourself: “If Christ is in me, what does Christ want to do through me?” This is not asking, “What would Jesus do?” This is discovering how we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). If you settled on an answer during your activity in “Pick Up Your Cross,” dwell and pray more on it now. If not, dwell and pray anyway; earnestly seek an answer from God, and discover your first steps in making that answer a reality.

Panorama Overlook

Berkeley Springs, West Virginia

“Because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.” (Numbers 14:24 NIV)

In a dark world, the hearts of Christians are illuminated by pure radiant light. The demonic spirit of the age advocates and applauds sexual immorality, violence, quarreling, selfish ambition, bigotry, envy, and drunkenness. In stark contrast, when believers permit the Holy Spirit to control our lives, God makes all the difference in the world in the way we interact with people.

The Holy Spirit gives a different spirit of love—we live sacrificially, not selfishly.

The Holy Spirit grants a different spirit of joy—we sing, and do not mope in sadness.

The Holy Spirit blesses with a different spirit of peace—we are serene, and do not sigh. 

The Holy Spirit furnishes a different spirit of patience—we are steady, not stormy.  

The Holy Spirit supplies a different spirit of kindness—we are sincere, not sarcastic.

The Holy Spirit confers a different spirit of goodness—we share, and do not snub.

The Holy Spirit bestows a different spirit of faithfulness—we are single-minded, not spiritually schizophrenic.

The Holy Spirit provides a different spirit of gentleness—we are sensitive, not severe.

The Holy Spirit reinforces with a different spirit of self-control—we are sane,  not simpleminded. 

Beyond the reach of change and decay, there is a beautiful Promised Land waiting for all who hear the beat of a Different Drummer—and stay in step.    

Pastor Johnny R. Almond

Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church; Fredericksburg, Virginia

This devotion based on Day 84 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity

Blog http://GentleWhispersFromEternity--ScripturePersonalized.com/

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is an English nursery rhyme dating back to 1862. We all said this when some bully, or some insensitive friend, made remarks to us or about us. Even though we said it, we knew it wasn’t true. Words do hurt, sometimes more than sticks and stones. I was reminded of this not long ago, when a friend made a hurtful remark about me. If the remark had been true it wouldn’t have hurt so bad, but it was false. Perhaps a misunderstanding, perhaps built-up frustration, I’m not sure what prompted it, but it hurt. The words reminded me of Psalm 55:21, “The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart; His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.” I came away from that experience praying another Psalm, “Let the words of my mouth . . . be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord” (Psalm 19:14). If you watched your words this week, what would they look like? Join me in the watch.

"Having a form of godliness but denying its power." - 2 Timothy 3:5

When I was a kid, Wonder Bread seemed like a major food group. We used it for toast to dip in our egg yolks…sandwiches for our school lunches…and French toast as a treat on the weekends. Wonder Bread was so soft you could squeeze a slice into a tiny ball the size of a nickel.

But what I remember most about Wonder Bread was its marketing blurb: “Builds Strong Bodies 12 Ways.”

Although I didn’t realize it at the time, the Wonder Bread slogan was false advertising, to say the least. The company first stripped flour of all its fiber and nutrients, then added some synthetic vitamins so the flour could be called “enriched.” Their heavily processed bread was full of questionable chemicals, and I’m not sure it should even have qualified as “food.”

Yet the company boasted that their product was helping Americans build strong bodies 12 ways.

You’re probably wondering what this has to do with you. Here are a few takeaways from the Wonder Bread phenomenon:

Be careful what you remove or add to your life. For the sake of cost or convenience, we’re all tempted to remove “nutritious” elements of our life in favor of easier alternatives that have no real benefit or value. For example, we’ll spend time watching mindless entertainment on TV rather than going to the gym or prioritizing quality time with our spouse, children, or friends.

Don’t fall for empty slogans. Over the course of my childhood, I must have heard the Wonder Bread “builds strong bodies” sales pitch thousands of times. In today’s world we’re surrounded by slick marketing blurbs that often have no basis in reality. It probably would be more accurate to say that Wonder Bread destroys healthy bodies 12 ways!

Pay the price for healthier options. Wonder Bread is cheap, convenient, and relatively tasty. Prior to the launch of Wonder Bread in 1921, most bread was sold unsliced, so it took convenience to a whole new level. In contrast, bread that hasn’t been stripped of nutrients will cost much more, and you may even have to slice it yourself.

Make your decisions on the basis of long-term outcomes. Wonder Bread won’t kill you—at least not right away. Neither will smoking, eating Big Macs, or drinking Coca-Cola every meal. The problem is the cumulative effect, the long-term outcome. If you’re wise, you’ll realize that the small decisions you make each day are contributing either to positive or negative outcomes in your future.   

Perhaps I’ll write a blog someday about how these Wonder Bread lessons apply to the church. Have we stripped away the power of God and vital disciplines such as prayer and fasting? Have we opted instead of an easier, cheaper, more convenient form of Christianity that is palatable but powerless?

I encourage you to take a hard look at your life today. Not just the food you eat, but the spiritual and emotional nutrients you’re consuming or omitting. You don’t have to settle for Wonder Bread!  

I was recently encouraged by comments from Kyle, whom I'm discipling. While Kyle was in an overseas military location, he met Christian, whom I had spent time with one-on-one several years before meeting Kyle. As they talked, Christian said, "I've followed what Dave suggested and its made a difference in how I've lived for Jesus."
It gives me no greater joy than to know my children are walking with Jesus. (3 John 1:4)

“Thou art the Sun of other days, They shine by giving back thy rays.”   (John Keble: The Christian Year)

“’Dear woman, why are you crying?’ Jesus asked her. ‘Who are you looking for?’ ‘Mary!’ Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, ‘Rabboni!’ (which is Hebrew for ‘Teacher’). Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, ‘I have seen the Lord!’   (John 20:15, 16, 18 NLT)

The sight of the stone rolled away from the tomb entrance, the folded linen cloth, the absence of the corpse—none of these moved Mary to thoughts of resurrection. The riddle of Jesus’ disappearance remained unsolved.

“They have taken away my Lord and I do not know where they have laid him.” Her logic is faultless. Dead bodies do not just disappear—someone has to move them. We live by laws of motion and mechanics. Science, reasoning, and perception are based upon the familiar and predictable; only what has happened before can happen now—or so we think.

Then Mary hears the One who had been certified as dead call her by name. Like the voice that shatters glass, the voice of Jesus shattered her world—calling her forward to new possibility and a new future.

“Rabboni!” (my very own Teacher) she cries out to Jesus. Then she communicated this too-good-to-keep-to-herself good news to the world. She did not shout, “I have seen the empty tomb and that proves Jesus is alive” The empty tomb never proved anything. The greatest argument for the Resurrection is personal encounter with the living Lord.

If something very real had not occurred on that strange, confused morning, there would have been no church, Christianity, or New Testament. Some still attempt to reduce Jesus’ resurrection to the coming of spring bringing life to the dead earth, or the rebirth of hope in the despairing soul. Some suggest these are the miracles that the Resurrection is all about, but they are not. In some way these things are miracles, but they are not this miracle—the central miracle on which the entire Christian faith pivots.

Konrad Adenaur, post WWII chancellor of West Germany, remarked, “If Jesus Christ is not alive, then I see no hope for the world.”  Because He is alive, we are filled with hope that our living Lord will one day solve intractable problems politicians, scientists, philosophers, economists, and warriors have for generations been unable to deal with.

Have you seen the Lord with heart sight? Have you heard him call your name? Have you fell at his feet and called him Rabboni?  Is Jesus your very own Teacher—leading you to see timeless truth. Is Jesus your Defense Counsel—defending you from guilt? Is Jesus your greatest Friend—letting you enjoy the pleasure of his company? Have you received his blessing, “Peace be with you”?

“There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain: Then bursting forth in glorious day Up from the grave He rose again! And as He stands in victory Sin's curse has lost its grip on me, For I am His and He is mine - Bought with the precious blood of Christ. No guilt in life, no fear in death, This is the power of Christ in me; From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand: Till He returns or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.” (“In Christ Alone” by Stuart Townend & Keith Getty)

Easter changed the world--How has it changed you? 

Johnny R. Almond

Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church; Fredericksburg, Virginia

Blog http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/

One of the Bible’s most incredible statements is that the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead now lives in us (Romans 8:11). Why then do I meet so many people who have dead areas in their lives, still awaiting Christ’s resurrection life?

I’m convinced that just about everyone has some aspect of their life in need of a resurrection. Dead hopes and dreams. Dead careers. Dead marriages. Dead relationships with parents, kids, or siblings. Or perhaps physical ailments in need of a touch from the resurrected Christ.

Can you relate to this? Is there some area of your life that has become stagnant, dry, or even dead? If so, some powerful lessons to be learned from Ezekiel’s stunning vision of God resurrecting the “dry bones” of the nation of Israel (Ezekiel 37).

As the vision began, Ezekiel found himself “in the midst of a valley” (v. 1). Isn’t it interesting that some of our greatest revelations from God come when we’re in a valley of some kind? We all crave mountaintop experiences, of course, but more often our biggest breakthroughs occur when we’re down in some valley or pit.

In this valley, Ezekiel didn’t just see one dead object. The valley was “full of bones,” body parts that once had been alive, but now were dead. In the same way, when we find ourselves sitting in a hopeless place, it’s hard to see signs of life anywhere. Death seems to have a cascading effect, spreading almost like cancer. Perhaps it started with a job loss, but then it turned into marital disharmony, depression, or addiction.

Surrounded by death and dryness on every side, the prophet is asked a very important question: “Can these bones live?” (v. 3) When an area of your life has seemingly died, this is a question you will have to confront. Is there any hope? Is it still possible for resurrection to come?

The temptation, of course, is simply to say, “It’s over. Once something has died, there’s no hope it will ever return to life.” Despite being a man of faith, even Ezekiel had little confidence this story was going to have a happy ending. Instead of boldly proclaiming that the dry bones would surely live, all he can muster is the lame response, “O Lord God, You know” (v. 3).

At this point in the story, God gets Ezekiel involved in the recovery plan, instructing him to “prophesy to these bones” and tell them to “hear the word of the Lord” (v. 4). If you’re ever going to experience the resurrection of a dead area of your life, it’s unlikely God will allow you to remain a passive bystander. No, He will give you an assignment, something you can do to spark the turnaround.  

Ezekiel is told to speak to the troublesome circumstances, commanding them to heed God’s Word. That’s a pretty good starting place for us as well. We need to start speaking words of life and hope to the dead things in our life, telling them to line up with the Word of God.

When Ezekiel obeyed the Lord and prophesied, “there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling” (v. 7). It can be a scary thing when our dead things begin to rattle, shake, and make noises! But this is often what happens when God begins to restore dead things to life. Rather than bring us fear, these should be signs of hope.

Next, “the bones came together, bone to bone” (v. 7). There’s power in agreement and relationship (Matthew 18:19-20). God’s plan is to bring us together, but if the devil can keep us separated and isolated, our dryness and defeat will continue unabated.

Finally, the Spirit of God breathed on these dead bones, bringing them back to life. The Israelites had said, “Our bones are dry, our hope is lost” (v. 11), but the Lord brought them resurrection and pointed them to a hope-filled future.

Notice that this is not a self-help story. Dead bones don’t come back to life by trying harder. Something supernatural needs to happen in order to bring dead things back to life.

This great story is about resurrection and hope, but it’s also about purpose. Although the bones had been lifeless and nonfunctional for a long time before, they “stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army” (v. 10). You see, it’s not just about God resurrecting your hopes and dreams so you can have a happier life. It’s about rising up to fulfill your purpose in His mighty army.

Can you hear the Spirit beginning to breathe on you today? It’s not too late for a resurrection!

The Psalmist tells us we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

It’s a lovely thought.

Until I get out of bed in the morning and my knee hurts in a way it has never hurt before for no particular reason.

Then I hobble to the bathroom and look in the mirror at the hair that’s left my head and is now creeping out of my nose and ears.

These are fearful things and I wonder why they are happening.

But I doubt that’s what the Psalmist was getting at.

All in all, I do believe we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Fearful in the sense of “very great.” Wonderful in the sense of, well, very wonderful! Or, “inspiring delight, pleasure, or admiration; extremely good; marvelous.”

I can get on board with these definitions.

As for the nose hairs and bad knee, I blame these on Adam and Eve.

The Fall messed things up for all of us in ways we can only begin to imagine. Everything is not quite what it should be. Doesn’t function as smoothly as intended. Especially as aging brings us closer to our earthly end.

Because of The Fall -- the source of “original sin”-- everything is disordered. Out of whack. Maladjusted.

The consequences are myriad.

On the lesser side of impact are nose hairs and balding. Our genes and atoms aren’t exactly what they’re supposed to be so annoying stuff happens in our bodies. As well as in nature in general, which gives rise to disease and the like.

Greater consequences are terrorism, sex trafficking, bizarre politicians, and all that’s ugly and bad in the world. All things driven by the evil, Fall-impacted intentions of sin-bent people.

Okay, that’s putting it simply, but it’s still accurate. And gets to my point.

Even in the midst of all that is dark, mean, ugly, and just downright awful, because we all have within us the image of God -- imago dei -- we are not left hopeless.

We are not the random victims of a mindless happenstance universe.

Satan slinked into the Garden with the intention of destroying all that was good about God’s amazing, perfectly designed creation.

But then, God sent His Son, Jesus, to provide solace in the midst of suffering. Hope for the broken. Light for those needing a way up and out. Salvation for the lost.

All creation still groans awaiting the full and final resolution of what Christ accomplished on the cross.

But for us who turn to Him, right here and now, we have the grace and mercy of God to comfort us, redeem us, transform us, and prepare us for the day when knees will no longer ache and hair will grow only where it’s supposed to.

Until then, I’ll wear a cap as needed, clip unwanted hairs, pray for the afflicted, advocate for the harmed, resist evil through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, and worship the God by whose hands I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

He is risen!


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Additional Reading:

• There’s sin, and then there’s sin: Child sacrifice, terrorism, baby body parts, mass killings & blaming God

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What are you thinking about, meditating on, mulling over this Easter season? Share your thoughts and insights in the comments! 


Click here to read a sample chapter (PDF) from my forthcoming novel, “The Hungering Dark: Awakening.” To learn more about the book, go to TheHungeringDarkStory.com.

“Caleb tried to encourage the people as they stood before Moses. ‘Let’s go at once to take the land. We can certainly conquer it!’” (Numbers 13:30 NLT)

“They can conquer who believe they can.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Poise is rare. Very few people remain calm in chaos. The poisonous majority report caused panic. Reconnaissance revealed a rich, fertile soil. A team transported a cluster of grapes from the milk-and-honey land, but cowards kept shaking because of phantom giants. Intimidated by walled cities, would-be warriors became grasshoppers.

Bad press discourages people. Chasing possibilities, they wonder—“How will it all turn out? Will we survive?” When a formidable situation makes your heart pound, take a deep breath—God’s Spirit will soothe your jangled nerves. When you are worried, the Lord is your Comforter. When you are paralyzed by fears, He is your Encourager. When you vacillate with uncertainty, He is your Counselor. He repairs frayed outlooks and heals hypertension. Even if stormy waters lie ahead on your voyage, you can sail through troubled seas on an even keel because He is at the helm.

“What is the use?” skeptics question. “Why try to do what is right? It does not pay to be good.” But defeatist thinking is a downward spiral of moral rottenness and spiritual ruin. You cannot speak for everyone, but make the personal choice of courage—take “the road less traveled.”

Christlikeness is the Christian’s promised land. We still have a long way to go to fulfill heaven’s dream for our life—to be like God’s Son. We are not totally mature, but we are in the process of growing up. We are not pure gold, but we are in His crucible.

Positivism is a by-product of faith in God. Doing “the impossible” is His everyday work. A “can-do” attitude tackles tasks the incredulous would never dare. With Christ’s help, we are strong enough for everything He assigns. His cross is a plus sign. His company is the secret to surviving any situation.

Without God, we cannot win; with God, we cannot lose. Faith brandishes the Holy Spirit sword and slays giants of defeatism. Faith uses God’s infinite power as a battering ram to demolish walls of pessimism. We do not fight alone—God is with us on the front line! We trust the Living Lord, the Victor over sin and death—so we can relax, assured we will ultimately share Christ’s victory. “Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark” (Rabindranath Tagore).

By faith, we rejoice in our eternal partnership with the risen Lord. In joy, we re-voice our Spirit-inspired optimism!

Johnny R. Almond

Interim Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church; Fredericksburg, Virginia

Blog http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/

This devotion based on Day 83 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity

I love the old maxim about risk-taking: “Behold the turtle. He only makes progress when he sticks his neck out.” You see, although you may feel safer while tucked away in your thick protective shell, you’ll never get anywhere in life. Your fears will block your fulfillment, and your comfort will turn into your coffin.

I’m convinced that fear is holding many people back from the necessary steps to make progress, enjoy life, or have a significant impact. My fellow baby boomers are especially prone to this common trap. We took risks in our younger days, some of which paid off, while others were brought devastating losses. But now we find it all too easy to play it safe and hedge our bets.

If you’ve talked with any financial planners recently, they’ve probably advised you to limit your risks as you get older. Be safe. Be conservative. Hang on to what you have. Don’t be too adventurous in your investments.

But those same advisors will admit that you’re unlikely to receive a substantial return on those “safe” investments. Small risk, small rewards. No risk, no rewards.

The same is true about our spiritual lives. Remember Jesus’ story about the guy who decided to bury his assets instead of risk losing them? Sadly for him, he ended up losing them in the end anyway (Matthew 25:14-28).

No decision could be riskier or more shortsighted than to opt for a risk-free life. First of all, such a life is impossible to find, since there will always be risks along the way. And even if you somehow succeeded in eliminating all risks, your life would be incredibly boring and unproductive.

Several decades ago, God gave me a vivid mental picture while I was praying. I saw myself playing poker, and I had amassed a very large stack of chips. Suddenly, however, I pushed the entire stack to the middle of the table and shouted, “ALL IN!”

Hmmm… I can’t help wondering if I would still be willing to take such a risk today. Although I claim to be entrusting my entire life to the Lord, lately I’ve only been giving Him the chips I’m willing to lose. And while I’ve succeeded in minimizing my risks, my rewards clearly have diminished as well.

As a student of the Bible, I’ve concluded that we need to grasp a couple of important lessons about risk-taking:

• If God truly has told us to do something, obeying Him doesn’t constitute a “risk.” Before walking on the water, Peter wisely sought and received a green light from Jesus. Things were going fantastic at first, as they always do when we trust and obey. Peter only ran into trouble when he took his eyes off the Lord (Matthew 14:25-32).
• Often we must take a step of faith, even when we have no direct guidance from God or assurances about the outcome. I love the story of Jonathan’s plan to defeat the Philistines, despite his lack of resources and manpower. His message to his armor bearer shows a commitment to do “the right thing,” even though God hadn’t told him what to do nor promised him victory:   (1 Samuel 14:6). What a challenging statement this is for those of us who want ironclad assurance from God before we embark on any endeavor. He doesn’t always work that way! Sometimes we need to “take a chance” on a noble venture, hoping God will come through for us.

After they each took a bold step of faith, Peter and Jonathan both received supernatural assistance. Peter had gotten direct encouragement from the Lord in his quest to walk on water. Jonathan, in contrast, trusted God and hoped for victory solely by virtue of his worthwhile mission.

When was the last time YOU took a significant risk, relying on God’s help? Like Peter, has Jesus been beckoning you to take a seemingly risky step, leaving the safety of your “boat”? Or do you find yourself in a situation more like Jonathan, where your heart says to take action, despite an uncertain future?

One thing for sure: You don’t want to be like the turtle who allowed fear to keep him hiding in his shell. If you’re trusting God with your life, you’ll need to stick your neck out from time to time. Your life will surely be more exciting and fulfilling that way.

The Bible is pretty clear that God prefers risk-takers to those who insist on playing it safe. Yes, when you take risks there will be some losses as well as gains. But if you ever start to sink among the roaring waves, He will lift you up again—and I bet He will even applaud your effort.