No Other Option

This is something I've been thinking about a lot lately in my own walk with God. Then I read something Bob Sorge wrote in his book Secrets of the Secret Place that confirmed what I had been thinking. Unfortunately, the book is at home and I am currently at work on my lunch break, so I'll quote Bob later.

What I've been thinking about is free will. I know many people have strong opinions about free will, including Christians, and I do as well. Maybe you will disagree with me, and that's fine, but here's what I think.

When you sign up to be a Christian, when you give your life to Jesus, you give up your free will. When you make Jesus the Lord (aka Boss) of your life, what He says goes. There is no saying 'No' at that point. To say 'No' to Him once you have initially said 'Yes,' in my mind, un-does the entire 'Yes.' When we say 'No' to Him, we are essentially saying, 'No, You're not the boss of my life; I am,' which completely contradicts His Lordship in our lives.

For me, I know there is something God has told me to do that, originally I didn't want to do. And I told Him no. I flat-out refused to be obedient to Him in that. But fortunately that didn't last long. My desire to be obedient to Him won out and I chose to say yes even though it was not something I wanted to do. Since then, He has worked in me and in my heart to bring me to the point where I want to do what He told me to do and even though it's been really difficult, I cannot imagine saying no to Him now, now that I've realized what saying no to Him actually means.

So for me, when God tells me to do something, and I feel convicted that He has in fact said *this,* I have no other option but to say yes. In saying yes to Jesus generally, I am obligated to say yes to Jesus specifically.

I have more thoughts on this, but I'll save that for another day.

He Doesn't Lie

So, I promised you two blog posts a week and last week there was NOTHING. I wouldn't blame you if you began to doubt my word about consistency in posting. Seriously. However, in my defense, we had our annual Swap conference last week, which is an international conference we both host and participate in. We had more than 100 delegates attend Swap from at least 9 different nations, which is amazing! So to say we were busy is a bit of an understatement.

That said, I will get on with today's post in order to fulfill my promise that there will be two posts per week. Yes, last week, I missed it. I didn't do it. I can't say for sure that I wasn't able to, but considering the circumstances of my life last week, it didn't happen. 

But with God, things are different. With God, when He makes us a promise, He delivers. Always. He doesn't ever have to say to us 'I missed it, I didn't do it, it didn't happen.' When He says He's going to do something, He does it. Numbers 23:19 specifically declares: 

God is not a man, that He should lie, 
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

For me, I'm just going to be honest, I don't understand this. This kind of commitment to His word baffles me because that is outside of my paradigm. He does not lie. HE DOES NOT LIE. I don't know anyone who doesn't lie, at least at times. I actually hate lying but I will admit there are times I don't necessarily tell the complete truth. And I think we're all like this. We all make mistakes. We all fail at times. We all mess up and we all miss it sometimes. But not Him. He does not lie. When He says He will do something, He knows what He is saying. He knows that He is entirely able to do what He says He is going to do, that nothing can stand in His way, and that He is absolutely willing to do it. So if He says He's going to do something, you can bank on the fact that He will.

This morning I read an encouraging message from Faith Marie Baczko about Psalm 138:8 which says 'The Lord will perfect that which concerns me.' She wrote:

The word 'perfect' is the Hebrew word gamar, which means to end in the sense of COMPLETION. The English definition of the word to perfect, means: to bring to completion; to finish; to make flawless or faultless: to bring nearer to perfection; to improve; to make better: to make fully skilled.

I don't know about you, but I take comfort in the fact that God has assured me in His word that He absolutely will finish what He has started. It's His promise. He doesn't lie, and He will do what He said He will do and it will be unto completion. It isn't a half-job. He doesn't get bored in the middle or change His plans half-way through. He said He will do it and He will, completely. 

I hope that encourages you. I know that I need that reminder today, that as I am in the midst of something I believe God spoke but I cannot see the finish line yet, I can believe Him and take Him at His word, that He will do what He said He would do, unto completion, and it will be all for Him and for His glory. 

Battles in the Promised Land

I had a revelation several weeks (maybe months) ago about the Promised Land and immediately thought—why did I never realize that before?? When the Israelites crossed over the Jordan River into Canaan, their Promised Land, they still had battles to fight.

The battles they fought were fought both BEFORE AND AFTER they entered their Promised Land. But when you hear people these days talk about entering our own Promised Lands, we speak as though that’s when we receive what we have already been fighting for, that once we ‘cross over,’ then the battle is finished and we get to rest. But that’s not the way it was for the Israelites. And if it wasn’t that way for them, should I expect it to be that way for me?

For me, I’ve been fighting for something for a long time, and as the time has passed, the battle has gotten more and more intense, and I’ve been waiting for my Jordan River cross-over moment partly so that I can just get some (spiritual) rest! I’ve been waiting to enter into my Promised Land so that I can relax and enjoy the fruit of my labours, but if we look at the story of the Israelites, rest and relaxation were not what waited for them on the other side of the river.

Is it fair though to use the story of the Israelites’ time in the wilderness and in the Promised Land as an analogy for our lives? I’ve always thought so and most preachers seem to agree. If it is, then what are the implications?

Generally speaking, I would imagine that the implications are that I can expect more battles to fight when God gives me what He has promised me. And isn’t that just the truth of life? God is so gracious to give, and we take, with gratitude or without, and we, for whatever reason, have an expectation that NOW things will be easier. Now that I have a better-paying job, now that I have a nicer place to live, now that I have gotten married, now that the kids are out of the house. But is that the right way to look at things? I don't think so.

I've lived long enough now to realize that we will always have battles to fight, in one area of life or another, but in the battles, I think there are some things we need to remember:

 1) God gives us rest when we need it. His Word says that He gives His beloved rest, and some days, it’s hard enough just to get out of bed. He knows that and He gives us grace for that. I believe it because I’ve experienced it!

2) Each battle strengthens us for the next. We go from strength to strength so that we can fight harder and longer and more effectively with each successive battle.

3) We never fight alone. He fights for us! Multiple times His Word proclaims His faithfulness in fighting for us. In addition, there are others around us who fight alongside us. That is part of the beauty of the Body of Christ, that we stand with each other and we encourage each other!

So, for me, I’m beginning to realize that I need to think about entering my Promised Land differently. When God gives me what He has promised me, yes, it will be beautiful, yes it will bear much fruit, yes it will be provision for me, just as it was for the Israelites, but I think I need to realize also that there will still be challenges, there will still be battles to fight, there will still be situations that require great strength. HOWEVER, I know that there are three things I can absolutely rely on in the midst of all that:

1) There is rest to be found even in the midst of the battle.

2) God is continually strengthening me as I fight.

3) I don’t have to do this alone!

It's February Already!

Instead of beginning this blog post with apologies for the fact that I have not posted in over two months (yeah, I know), I'm going to tell you that I have established a goal for myself, along with someone who will keep me accountable, to write TWO blog posts every week! That means for those of you who read my blog, you will get so much more insight into what's going on in my heart, mind and life! Lucky you! (I joke). But God has been doing a lot and I am happy to share what He's been up to in my life and what He's currently challenging me with in my walk with Him. I hope whatever I write, He uses to encourage you!

Since December, I have moved to beautiful Lancashire where the sun shines not so much at this time of year, but when it does, we appreciate it! I now work with the national directors of Pais GB and I love the work I am doing! It's been six weeks since I officially began this role and it has challenged me and I know it will continue to do so. But that's good! It's giving me opportunities to grow, which I need. Praise the Lord!

In addition to all the changes that have already occurred since December (moving, new job, new living situation, new church, new friend-group, new life-rhythm), I feel there are more changes on the horizon. I can't say specifically what they are right now, but God is birthing something new in my life in this season. It has been coming for a long time, and I won't lie, the season I have been in for quite a while hasn't been easy. And that's ok, because life isn't supposed to be easy! But part of the reason it has been challenging is because God has been working in me to prepare me for what He has prepared for me, whatever that is. I don't know exactly what to expect; I just feel there's something different coming, which is very exciting, because I like to see God moving! So, in the coming days, as God does whatever it is He is going to do, I will keep you updated as much as I can. But honestly, probably, a lot of it will be about what He's doing in me and speaking to me and challenging me about as I follow Him on what I believe is a road I've never walked before. So, thank you for your prayers; keep praying for me. Good things are ahead!