Have you ever stopped to truly ponder the reality of God’s love for you? I’m sure many of us might have faulty views of God’s love, perhaps shaped by the neglect or absence of a parent, a painful past, or a lack of knowing who God really is. 

The first church song many of us learned growing up as kids was probably, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” And then we often hear, “God loves you!” shouted from the pulpit, as well as sung in many worship songs.    

Yet the final thing Jesus prayed for us in John 17, before going to the cross, was “I have made you (God) known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them: (V.26).  1 John  4:16 simply tells us, “God is love.”  If we were to truly grasp the love of God and the love he has for us, our lives and how we live them would be remarkably different. 

This is precisely Paul’s prayer for the Church in Ephesus who needed to be  reminded and filled with God’s love. So Paul, in Ephesians 3, got on his knees before God and prayed for the believers: “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints to grasp how wide, and long, and high, and deep is the love of Christ. And to know this love of Christ that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of the fullness of God” (vs 18-19).Paul prayed that we would encounter God’s love beyond mere knowledge of it; he desired that we would grab hold of it. To help us understand its vastness, he defines love in terms of its dimensions.
He wants us to grasp the width of God’s love which represents the coverage of God’s love. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world.” God’s love is not limited to a race or nation. God’s love is wide because God is love.
Next Paul wants us to grasp the length of his love which represents the extent to which he loves us. Jeremiah 31:3 says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love” and that, “even while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
Paul then prayed that we would grasp the height of God’s love, representing the loftiness and generosity of it. The Psalmist declared in Psalms 36:5, “Your love oh Lord, reaches to the heavens.” Paul wants us to understand that God’s love has no ceiling or limit; it’s “over the top” and overflowing. 
Finally, Paul wants us to grasp the depth of God’s love which represents the intensity and magnitude of his amazing love. God promises to “never leave us nor forsake us” (Hebrews 13:5), and that “we are more than conquerors through him who loves us,” declaring that nothing will be able to separate us from his love (Romans 8:37-39)  
Take a moment to think about, and grab hold of, just how wide and long and high and deep the love Christ has for you is.  Three instances of God’s love that changed the course of my life are when I surrendered my life to Jesus in 1987, when I got married in 1999, and when my twin daughters were born in 2009. In all three cases, I was overwhelmed by the love my heavenly Father had for me, personally, and still has.
I pray that you would know, beyond mere knowledge, that God’s love for you has no limits or boundaries. Grab hold of it, for God’s love is truly amazing. 

Are you content? Are you content with who you are, what you have, and what you’ve accomplished in your life? I have to confess, in my spare time of wandering around on social media, I have found my mind wandering over dreams of a renovated backyard worthy of hosting and entertaining a king. I will even admit that, as I drive around in my 2008 Toyota truck with 165,000 miles, I want a new truck; even though the one I have drives perfectly fine. 

For the most part, I am a content person and know all too well that, while the grass appears greener on the other side...just wait till the water bill arrives and you have to mow the grass!  I find it interesting that we are witnessing a generation growing up more dissatisfied and discontent than ever before; yet we have more stuff, resources, information, and technology than anyone before. It doesn’t help that the worldwide marketing machine spent $560 billion in 2019 to make you unhappy with who you are, how you look and what you have. In the end, we find ourselves buying things we don’t need, with money we don’t have, to impress people we don’t even know. 

Now, there is a danger of becoming too content, to the point of being lukewarm, but the apostle Paul tells the young pastor Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:6 that godliness with contentment is great gain. Paul was able to tell Timothy this because he first learned to be content himself. In Philippians 4:11, Paul would say, “for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances”.  And he did so in three ways:

First, Paul learned to be content when having little. In verse 12,  he tells us that he knows what it is like to be in need. Paul wrote this letter from jail, owning barely the shirt on his back and with plenty of reasons to complain. Perhaps we can look back and remember a time we had very little to show for our efforts and little to live upon, but yet found joy and small ways to give thanks.

Second, Paul was content because he learned how to handle the abundance in his life.  The rest of verse 12 says that Paul also knew what it is to have plenty. The danger of an abundance in our lives is to start thinking that we don’t need anything else. When we think we have it all, we can come to the point that we don’t need God. Isn't that just like us, when things are going really well, to place God on the back shelf? 

Finally, Paul was content because he found his strength and satisfaction IN Christ. The well-known says, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (vs. 13). This verse is not promoting some positive mental attitude or possessing a “blank check” mentality with the bank of God; In actuality, Paul was saying, “I can be content in whatever the circumstance because of the strengthening work of Christ in my life.”  

Paul’s secret for contentment was not a principle, but a person. Paul was content with whatever he faced because he faced life knowing the Lord was with him. Don’t listen to the lies of the world that say, “If you only had this one thing, you will be happy.” Instead, join the Psalmist in Psalms 34:8 that says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” And Psalms 37:4 that says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”   

You might never get a new truck or that beautiful backyard, but your heart can be overflowing today with the joy in the Lord.   Be content! 

How often, when children have been given something, have we been known to ask,, “What do you say?” The response we were waiting to hear was, “Thank you!” As parents, we hope to instill the habit of being thankful. I wonder if our heavenly father ever looks at us, knowing the immeasurable blessings we’ve been given, and waits to hear us say, “Thank you!” Because, honestly, isn’t it much easier to complain than to give thanks?

The apostle Paul exhorts us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” We are called to give thanks in ALL circumstances; not just when things are going well for us. And being thankful is what God wants as his will for our lives: to trust in his provisions, accept his care, and acknowledge his goodness.

Here are three ways we can be more thankful.

1. THINK thankfully: Being thankful starts with the right attitude and mindset. The words “thank” and “think” come from the same root word reminding us that thankfulness grows out of thoughtfulness. As we think about all that God has done for us, gratitude should be our response. We need to cultivate an “attitude of gratitude.”  Colossians 3:16-17 says,  “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” 

2. TALK thankfully: Talking thankfully involves first and foremost the habit of praising and thanking God. Psalm 118:1 says, “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good and his love endures forever.” How often do we stop in the course of our day to thank God for another day of life, for our next breath, and for the beautiful sunrise or sunset we often catch a glimpse of? But talking thankfully also includes others. Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 to, “Encourage one another and build each other up.” Do we show gratitude and thanks to others for who they are and what they have done? Make it a priority to thank and appreciate others on a regular basis.

3. ACT thankfully: When our minds and mouths become thankful, our actions will follow. We need to be cultivating a life of thankfulness no matter what comes our way. We need to learn to give thanks in “all” situations we face, both the good and bad. Because we have the hope and the promise in Romans 8:28 that says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” 

So, stop and consider this: Not only would mom and dad want our response to be, “thank you,” but our heavenly father desires thankfulness to be a part of our lives. It’s his will for our lives in Christ Jesus. Take time right now to stop and thank God, then begin to find ways to thank others.  

Do you consider yourself a joyful person? Can others see the evidence of joy in your life?  So often, we dismiss the call and command for joy in our lives by saying, “It’s not who I am or part of my personality.” It is fair to argue that we are finding ourselves in uncharted and unparalleled times of trial during this pandemic which may leave us pondering the place of joy in our lives. Perhaps we need to start with an understanding of what joy is.

Joy is defined as “to experience great pleasure or delight”¹. In the Greek, the word joy is “chara,” which means cheerful, glad, joyfully rejoicing. Rejoicing describes the outward expression of our internal joy because joy is something found within us, not dependent on what happens around us. In fact, there is a big difference between joy and happiness. Happiness comes from the root word “hap,” which literally means chance, and is where the words happen, hapless, and haphazard are derived. Essentially, happiness is glad feelings, dependent on something good and pleasurable happening to us by chance. Happiness happens, but joy is a choice - a decision purposefully made, as well as an attitude and decision of the heart.

Joy comes from the Lord. It’s the evidence, presence, and  fruit of the Spirit living in us (Galatians 5:22). Joy is what the Lord brings about and develops in our lives as we surrender, trust, and follow him daily.  So joy is not optional, but commanded, because, if the Lord gives it to us, he can also demand it from us.  

1 Thessalonians 5:16 says, “Be joyful always” which means joy cannot just be found when things are going well or when we feel like it, but “always.” Another great example and command of joy can be seen in the book of Philippians. Paul is writing from jail, chained to a guard, awaiting sentencing that could cost him his life, but he encourages the church in Philippi (and us today as an extension of that church!). In chapter 3:1, Paul ends his letter by saying, “Finally, brothers, rejoice in the Lord!” And, as an exclamation with further exhortation, he declares:  "Rejoice in the Lord always, I’ll say it again rejoice“ (4:4) You would be hard-pressed to find a clearer command than this one, repeated twice in the same verse.

Joy permeates throughout all of Paul’s prison epistle. He references joy 17 times in the book’s 104 verses, which averages out to about once every six verses. And, as an application of joy, Paul adds, “Let your gentleness be evident to all.” Are we people who lose control easily or fly off the handle? Both joy and gentleness should accompany our response and character because, as Paul reminds us at the end of verse 5: “The Lord is near.”  He is near, both in the sense that he is a constant companion, presence, and our peace, but also in that his return is near. So, our hearts can resonate with Paul who tells us in Romans 8:18, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

Paul ended his call to joy by giving us some direction: “Do not be anxious (worried) about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (vs. 6).  Paul is pointing out that, if we can spend time and exert energy worrying, fretting, and “stressing out”, we can instead make the choice to bring it before God. When we do, an amazing promise follows:  “And the peace of God which transcends all our understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (vs. 7).  

Friends, we must come to the place where we not only choose joy, but we fight for it.  We may not feel like it, but we can consider it, look to the Lord for it, and declare it, as Habakkuk did:
 
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I knew I was in trouble the day I asked my daughter to retrieve something from the garage pantry when she returned saying, “Daddy I don’t see it!” I proceeded to walk outside, grab it instantly and reply, “Are you blind, Honey? It’s right in front of you!” it then occurred to me that my daughter inherited my right-in-front-of-you blindness. There have been many times when my wife has had to tell me, “It’s right in front of you, or “Did you not see what you just walked over the last five trips down the hallway?”  It’s amazing to me just how many times we can miss something right in front of us. 

This is what happened Easter morning to two of Christ’s followers, as described in Luke 24.  Surrounded by the confusion of the women returning from the tomb yelling, “Jesus is alive!” and the disciples declaring, “That's nonsense,” Cleopas and an unnamed follower started walking away from Jerusalem and heading home to their village, called Emmaus.  

Verse 14 paints a picture of these two dejected followers of Christ, mumbling in a conversation of unbelief, when Jesus himself came up and walked along with them. Verse 15 says, “but they were kept from recognizing him.” I believe Jesus wanted to do a deeper work in these two by not only helping their physical eyes to see that he had risen from the dead, but also to increase the faith of their spiritual eyes.       

With their faces downcast, Jesus engages them in conversation in order to help them see and know who he truly is. In verses 19-24, we see three examples of their doubt. First, verse 19 shows us they had plenty of facts and knowledge, but they lacked a heart of faith. They said, “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed, but he was sentenced to death and they crucified him.” Second, we can see their hope was misplaced when, in verse 21, they say, “But we had hoped he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.” How many times has our faith collided with our doubt all because God didn’t do for us what we had expected? Third, in verse 23, they recall the women going to the tomb and returning exclaiming, “Jesus is alive!” yet they didn’t believe them. 

For the rest of the journey, Jesus gives them a refresher course of everything he previously taught them, and reminded them that all of what Scripture said concerning him must take place. This was so profound that, as Jesus acted as if he was going to keep walking, they strongly urged him to be their dinner guest.  As Jesus broke bread and gave thanks, they were then able to see their savior.  Jesus was right in front of them, risen from the dead, and partaking of communion with them.  Verse 31 says, “when their eyes were opened up they asked each other, ‘were not our hearts burning within us’?” It was at this point they got up from the table and ran 7 miles, all the way back to Jerusalem, to tell the other disciples. They burst through the door in verse 34, exclaiming, “It is true! The Lord is risen.”  While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”
Isn’t it comforting to know that, when we lack the faith to see what God is doing, Jesus walks alongside us, opens our eyes, and allows us to see who he really is? Oh, what peace follows when we find what we’re looking for., Most of the time, it's “right there in front of us.”  

Good Friday: The Crucifixion
Read:  (Matt 27:32-56; Mark 15, Luke 23:26-56 & John 19)

I can still remember, as a teenager, extending my grounding punishment sentence, all because I felt the need to have the last word. That didn’t turn out well for me, so I am thankful today that I’m learning to keep my mouth shut. But, there are some final words worth listening too-those of the one who willingly went to the cross on our behalf.  

Jesus was nailed to the cross from 9:00am until 3:00pm, enduring such physical, emotional, and spiritual anguish. Yet, in those 6 hours, the Gospels record Jesus speaking 7 powerful statements that we can take to heart:
1. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34).  Jesus, fresh from the sting of the pounded nails, could continue to hear the crowds below in their mocking and jeering. Even the soldiers near the cross began rolling the dice, gambling for the very clothes that now left Jesus naked. Luke tells us that Jesus’ first words, while on the cross, were a plea for forgiveness on behalf of His tormentors. Forgiveness has to be one of the most difficult acts to offer another life, especially if they have brought you so much pain. But isn’t forgiveness precisely what Jesus offers us, despite our great sin before Him? We must in turn forgive, as He has forgiven us.
2. “Truly, I say to you, ‘today you will be with me in paradise’.” (Luke 23:43). As an example of forgiveness, Jesus hung that day between two guilty criminals. The thief on Jesus’ left hurled insults and doubt, while the one on His right owned up to his sins and acknowledged Jesus as innocent. In true repentance, that criminal turned to Jesus as his Savior and asked to be remembered when Jesus rose again. If our lives are consumed with what others have done to us, we will never know the peace in what Jesus has done for us.   
3. “Dear woman this is your son…here is your mother” (John 19:26-27). The third saying of Jesus brings selfless compassion, as He sees His mother grieving over what she sees her son facing. Even through His pain, Jesus cared deeply for others and invited John, His faithful friend and follower, to take His place as Mary’s son.   
4. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). Matthew tells us that from 12:00pm until 3:00pm, darkness covered the whole land. This darkness was the full symbolic reality of sin and separation. Jesus took on the weight and consequences of all sin, when He had never known sin before. In addition, Jesus, for the first time, encountered broken fellowship with the Father, as God looked away and let His Son carry the full weight.  
5. “I am thirsty” (John 19:8).
In addition to the human frailty Jesus displays in His fourth statement, Jesus’ fifth statement brings the full realization of His humanity. After His final plea, He utters two more statements. Jesus, the fountain of Living Water, cries out for a drink Himself. A sponge, soaked with wine vinegar, was lifted up on a stalk of hyssop as a mockery to wet the lips of our dying Savior, yet He still uttered two final sentences with His final breathes.
6.     “It is finished” (John 19:30).
Jesus cried out a Greek word saying, “Tetelestai” which is translated as, “it is finished.” Teleo means to bring to an end, to accomplish or complete. This was a banking term which means “debt paid in full.” In that very moment, Jesus, the perfect and spotless lamb, paid for every sin ever committed and purchased our redemption.  
7.  “Father, Into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46). When Jesus finished His work, the very last thing He did was submit and yield up His very life into His Father’s hands. In perfect submission, obedience, and as a sacrifice, Jesus bowed His head, exhaled, and gave up His spirit.




       

Thursday- Passover:
Read: (Matt 26:17-75; Mark 14:12-72; Luke 22:7-65 & John 13)

I can’t think of many pleasures in life that are better than sitting down to a meal with friends and family. There’s something about people and food that brings me joy and leaves me with so many happy memories.

It’s no wonder the Bible records so many meals our Lord had with His friends, family, and followers. In fact, on the very eve of His crucifixion, Jesus celebrated a Passover meal with his disciples.  That final meal was not just an observance of the annual Jewish celebration, but the last supper, known and celebrated by the Church as Communion.

John’s gospel tells us in chapter 13 that Jesus knew the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. And having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.  Several things happened that night, but, at the center of it all, was the meal they shared together. Jesus focused on the “cup of blessing” and the “breaking of bread.” The cup and the bread were  common elements at any evening meal (both then and now), but Jesus would use these two common elements to illustrate something uncommon and profound.

The cup that was shared represented Jesus’ blood which was going to be spilled on Calvary. The blood would seal a new covenant with God’s redeemed people for all of eternity.  In the same manner, Jesus also took the bread, broke it, and offered it to those partaking of the meal. The bread would represent Jesus’ broken body, given not for those he dined with, but for all who would accept his broken body as perfect sacrifice for our sins.

This night was a very emotional night. In the middle of this symbolic meal stood heartache and humility. It was during the course of the meal that Jesus would predict Judas’ kiss of betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane, as well as Peter’s denial of Jesus three times. In between all of this, a dispute broke out among the disciples as to whom would be the greatest in God’s kingdom. Without a word, Jesus stood up, removed his rabbinical robe, wrapped a towel around his waist and began washing each of the disciple’s feet. When he finished, Jesus told them, “A new command I give you: love one another as I have loved you….by this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:24-25)  

I can only imagine how special, moving, and powerful that final meal was. Yet over 2000 years later, as often as we gather in Jesus’ memory, we can partake of the Lord’s Supper. We not only proclaim His death, but also recognize the fellowship and new life we have with Him and with others.

So, the next time you partake of a meal with family and friends, leave an extra chair for Jesus. He’s dining with us, for He lives in us.    

Wednesday: Day of Rest and Worship
READ: ( Mark 14:1-11)

Wednesday: Day of Rest and Worship
READ: ( Mark 14:1-11)

Wednesday of the Passion Week is considered to be a day of rest for Jesus. It was the day before the very long and emotional time that lay ahead for our Lord. But even in the midst of this day stood two contrasting lives that leave a choice for you and I today.

Both Matthew and Mark write about a very special moment that took place at the feet of Jesus. Matthew 26:6-13 tells of an evening meal Jesus was attending in Bethany, at the home of Simon the Leper. There, a woman many have called Mary, the sister of Lazarus, came to Jesus with an alabaster jar of perfume. She broke it open and poured it on the head of Jesus. This was a very costly, humbling, and symbolic act of her love and devotion for Jesus. Can you imagine how special of a moment that must have been, not only for Jesus, but for this woman who spent the last hours of Jesus’ life worshipping at his feet? I have to wonder how much of Jesus’ blood, sweat, and tears on Friday included remnants of this woman’s fragrant offering on Wednesday night.

In contrast to this beautiful act of devotion, we know that the disciples get indignant over the waste.  Jesus wasted no time correcting them by saying, “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.” And, in verse 13, concludes saying, “I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”  We know one disciple in particular, named Judas, takes offense to this act as he was the treasurer in charge of the money bags. In the very next scene (v.14), we can follow Judas, who goes directly to the chief priest and looks to arrange being compensated for betraying Jesus in the garden.

One person made the decision to give all she had to spend a memorable moment worshipping at the feet of her Savior.  The other would take his own life over receiving 30 pieces silver -  the same silver that was later thrown at the feet of the chieft priest who was there approving the murder of our Savior.  

For all of us, the invitation from our Lord is given: “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from  me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Make time to rest and sit in worship at the feet of Jesus. Come to Him, and you will find rest for your souls.

Tuesday: Day of Controversy and Teaching
READ: (Matt. 21:23-24:51, Mark 11:27-13:37)


For the record, I have a whole new appreciation for school teachers and homeschooling parents. The COVID-19 directive for students to stay at home and continue their learning online brings a whole new challenge for many families,ours included. It’s one thing for a child to listen and obey their parents, but now children must listen and follow their parents as substitute school teachers. We all know how most kids view substitute teachers!

Yesterday, we talked about how Jesus “cleaned house” the Monday following Palm Sunday. Yet, that wasn’t enough, because Jesus returned back to the temple courts on Tuesday to teach His followers (and the crowds listening in). But the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, who were also present, refused to accept Jesus’ teaching and began to question His authority.

In Mark, chapters 11-13, the teachers of the law started looking for a way to accuse Jesus and justify condemning  Him to death. Topics such as paying taxes to Caesar, marriage at the resurrection, and the greatest commandment occupied the truth lesson that day. But Jesus cut right to the heart of their rejection of the truth, saying, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.” (Mark 12:38-40).

Yet, less than three days later, while facing crucifixion, Jesus stood before Pilate questioning why His own people would not listen to Him. Jesus responded saying, “In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me,” to which Pilate retorted, “what is truth?” Little did Pilate know he was actually standing before the very essence, incarnation, and objective presence of truth. (John 18:37-38).

We must choose what we do with who Jesus is and what He says, for He declares, “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6) and “You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32).

Monday: Clearing the Temple
READ: (Matt 21:12-17, Mark 11:12-18)  

Cleaning God’s House

It’s Springtime, and with the extra time at home comes the opportunity to clean the house. Our family has been organizing closets, pantries, cleaning up the garage; even my office at church. It's a miracle! Perhaps there is a little cleaning in your house to be done. 

On the Monday following Palm Sunday (when He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey), Jesus returned to the temple courts. Matthew 21:12-13 says, “Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.”

It was during the Passover celebration that close to two million people would fill up Jerusalem to visit the temple to worship, pray, and give of their offerings and sacrifice. What set Jesus off that morning was seeing two things: First, the money changers were charging outrageous currency rates to convert the participants’ money into shekels to pay the temple tax. Secondly, traders were charging outrageous prices to those looking to buy a lamb, pigeon, or dove that they alone deemed worthy to be offered. 

It was this unholy commercialism in God’s house which makes Jesus righteously indignant and causes him to turn over the money tables, driving out the traders and declaring, “My house will be a house of prayer.”  Don’t know about you, but I get the strong impression that God takes our worship, service, devotion, and attitude in His presence seriously. 

I wonder what our Lord’s reaction would be as He looks around His Church today?
Not just the building we gather in and call “church,” but the reality that our Lord, more importantly, sees each of us as His Church.That our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, meant to honor and glorify God. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

So, go ahead and take advantage of this time to do a little house cleaning, but I encourage you, start with your spiritual house first.

Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart, and wait for the Lord.” I don’t know about you, but being still is so very difficult for me personally.  The very idea of waiting, being still, patient, and ceasing  to do is quite a challenge. And, as we find ourselves more isolated and distant from others while adapting to virtual ministry because of the Coronavirus, this idea of “being still” becomes more difficult.

But could God be getting our attention? Could He be stripping away the business of our lives along with the noise and clamour to draw us back to Himself. It is certainly in these difficult times that we begin to evaluate our lives: personally, relationally, physically, financially, and (especially) spiritually.

I’m reminded of a great story and lesson on being still that’s found in the Old Testament in the book of  Exodus, chapter 14.  God’s people had been enslaved in Egypt for 400 years when God chose Moses to confront Pharaoh and demanded that he let God’s people go. After a supernatural showdown between God and the gods of Egypt, the 10th plague forced Pharoah to relent and send his indebted servants free to wander in the desert.   And, as God was leading His children, He led them intentionally into a cul-de-sac; a dead-end road. There was a massive Egyptian stone fortress to the north, a wide-open blazing desert to the south, Egypt itself due west, and they were staring at the Red Sea to the East. As Pharaoh noticed God’s people seemed to be running in a circle, helplessly stuck, he and his army of chariots pursued them in a full attack. 

As God’s people began to cry out to God, Moses told them, “Do not be afraid.  Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still” (13-14). God had clearly brought them to this place of being still and stuck to teach them four things: Do not fear, watch for God’s deliverance, know that God will FIGHT for you, and BE STILL.  

Perhaps you feel like you have found yourself at a dead end road or wandering the desert, or perhaps an army of fear, worry, doubt, and despair is charging after you.  

Be still!

Recently, I was alone with the Lord on a walk when I sat down on a rock in a quiet place. The birds were singing loudly and the rain drops began falling around me when God quietly spoke to me a favorite Psalm: “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

Take a moment to quiet your heart and be still. Ask God to reveal, remove, and restore what he lays on your heart. Allow God to lead you, deliver you, fight for you, and speak to you as you wait on the Lord.

Today, our society could be defined by one word: FEAR! We, unlike previous generations, are marked by an extreme escalation and both young and old are controlled by fear, worry, and anxiety. Despite all our technological achievements, psychiatry, and advanced medication, we still live in fear.

It’s no surprise then that God’s Word commands us, “Do not fear.” It is stated in various ways, over 365 times; a reminder for every day of the year.  2 Timothy 1:7 says, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.” Fear comes from the enemy, and is his tool to drive us away from God. The enemy relies on deceit, lies, and fear (False Evidence Appearing Real)¹, but it’s “God’s perfect love that drives out every fear” (1 John 4:18) and draws us near to Him.

There was a time, several years back, that fear gripped our family. My 4-year-old daughter became so afraid that she was unable to leave the house for 40 days. Fear began to rule our house, oftentimes leaving our family feeling hopeless and helpless. Yet God was not silent. Before this began, He gave me a wonderful promise in Psalms 27. These words were penned by King David who was ever-familiar with trials, tragedy, loneliness, and despair yet,t because of his confidence in our great God, could say, “The Lord is my light and salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1-2).

When we face those times and we want to give in to fear, we must declare who God is and ask ourselves, as we hold on to Him, “whom or what shall I fear?” We must never allow fear to override our faith, or listen to the lies of the enemy, for we too can take comfort with Joshua in being reminded, “Be strong and courageous,. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1: 9).

 _{1 Carr, Brittney. F.E.A.R.: False Evidence Appearing Real. Independently Published, 2019.}