Encouragement and Tools to Abide in God's Word
We are putting the finishing touches on our next Bible Memory Challenge!
It was be six verses only. We will memorize through the season of Lent, from Wednesday, February 17, through Saturday, April 3, the day before Easter.
We’d appreciate your prayers for us as we prepare, and we will be praying for those who will memorize with us.
Watch for details and registration coming soon!
We have been de-cluttering all month with our series Let Go and Know He is God. Because of God’s unchanging character, we can let go of the things that drag us down and hold us back.
Because God is SOVEREIGN I can let go of CONTROL
Because God is CARING I can let go of MY WILL
Because God is PRESENT I can let go of the FUTURE
Because God is BIG/MIGHTY/STRONG I can let go of SMALL THINKING
Because God is GENEROUS I can let go of HESITATION
Because God is PERFECT I can let go of EXPECTATIONS
Psalm 46:10
#LetGoandKnow
I’m not perfect (hold for surprised gasp). It’s true, I’m not. But I spend a lot of time working to live up to other’s standards for me.
In today’s post (part of our #letgoandknow series) we’re going to look at God’s perfection. Because He is perfect, we can let go of those expectations.
This God—his way is perfect (Psalm 18:30).
To be perfect is to be without flaw. Blameless. Complete. Whole. Entirely in accord with the truth. God’s character is the standard by which all things are measured.
When I measure my life and character against the world, I get very confusing results. By some standards, I am doing great! Living a good life. By others, I am seriously lacking. The standards are inconsistent, exhausting, and ultimately a lie. By the world’s standards, it is impossible to find lasting peace, genuine joy, and true love.
In God’s perfection, we find a standard that is consistent and worth pursuing.
In God's perfection, we find a standard that is consistent and worth pursuing #letgoandknowClick To TweetBut aren’t God’s standards a little…impossible? Jesus taught his disciples “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48) In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) He shows them how it is not enough to simply keep the external commandments of the law. Perfection is in the direction of our hearts.
The prophet Amos put it like this, “behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand.” (7:7)
“A plumb line is a weight, usually with a pointed tip at the bottom for marking a point. The weight is suspended from a string; gravity pulls the weight down and pulls the string tight. It is used by builders as a vertical reference point – to make sure what they are building is straight….A plumb line does not deviate, it does not provide excuses, it does not just tell you what you want to hear, it does not change. It is unerringly straight and right.” (from Bible.org)
I want to be perfect, but when God is my plumbline, I see myself as I am – crooked, flawed, hopelessly imperfect.
Thankfully that is not the end of the story.
“His eyes are full of love as gently He shows us where we are crooked and need to be made straight.” (Stanley Voke, Personal Revival)
God’s plumbline shows us our iniquity (that which deviates from the plumb) and brings us to repentance, the place where we are redeemed.
“But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24)
I am not perfect, but because Jesus is, I can let go of the expectations, the burdens of trying to be good enough, and rest in His Perfection.
Psalm 19:7
This month we are delving into the character of God and the freedom He brings in a series titled “Let Go and Know.” Jaime posed the question, “What trash are we holding on to, and more importantly, what is it about God that allows us to let go freely?” God is showing me that He is generous with His Spirit, and I can let go of my hesitance to receive the fullness of His every spiritual blessing.
Sometimes hesitation is life-saving, like when the speed of the crossing traffic causes me to pause, waiting for a longer gap before making a left turn. But sometimes, hesitation causes us to miss out. Many an athlete has missed a shot thanks to hesitation, and I’ve missed opportunities to encourage someone because I hesitated to speak up.
While the self-restraint of hesitation has an appropriate place in our lives, it can also stand between us and experiencing the fullness of God’s goodness. I wonder if we underestimate God’s generosity in giving us an abundance of Himself.
I set out walking this morning with an anxious heart. As I prayed and sought to give over to God anything that stood between me and His peace, in my mind’s eye I saw myself not far from a flowing river. But there was a steep, rocky ridge between me and the river. That rocky hill was a pile of spiritual disciplines I felt I should have already mastered or character traits I felt I should already be, so that I could really hear from God, really have the abundance of love, knowledge, insight, gifts with which to bless others. I wanted to be there, in that water of spiritual life, right then. But, well, it looked like a lot stood between “here” and “there.”
It sprinkled. And then it poured. I was drenched, with my face turned up and taking it all in.
Friends, I didn’t have to climb of spiritual feats that hill I’d dreamed up, that cut me off from a wealth of God’s blessings. Before I’d mentally even set to asking Him to hold my hand and help me cross the hill to get to into the river, the water just poured out of heaven. I was soaked through, right where I was.
How quickly I forget that God’s Spirit dwells right within me (1 Corinthians 3:16, Ephesians 1:13). God is so extravagantly generous. Paul writes that “He has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing.” Wow.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, Ephesians 1:3
Check out Ephesians chapter 1 for a glimpse into the abundance of his blessings. This morning, these words catch my attention: “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him” (Ephesians 1:17).
With a surrendered, obedient heart, I don’t have to assume that God’s wisdom, knowledge, revelation, or freedom await me only on the other side of a mountain of effort. I wonder what today looks like, when I let go of the hesitation springing from feelings of immaturity and inferiority, and simply receive His abundance.
I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. Psalm 81:10
Many of us who read this blog have taught Bible songs that proclaim how BIG, MIGHTY, and STRONG God is. We sing those words and proclaim that there is NOTHING too big for God. Sung with abandon, the words ring so loud and true.
Two Sundays ago, my 3rd/4th Grade Sunday School class delved into Jesus’ title as Son of God, and I shared three reasons why Christ’s sonship matters. A few days later, preparing for an adult small group, I read Hebrews 1. I read it again and then again. It hit me—then and there. Although correct in doctrine, the Jesus I presented to my Sunday School class was too small.
As I head into 2021, I need to let go of small thinking about God.
Considering what I have read in God’s Word over the last week, my only goal in this post is to share the scripture that the Holy Spirit has used as an exhortation to ditch any view of God that is small. It is my prayer that you will meditate on these scriptures and consider the glory of God.
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs (Hebrews 1:1-4).
The Psalmist writes,
O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens….
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him (Psalm 8:1,3-4)?
This doxology of praise captures God’s vast power.
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen (Romans 11:33-36).
Like a picture of the sunset taken on my cellphone is a poor representation of the beauty and majesty of such a sight, I lack the words today. I can only point you to the Scripture. Read Hebrews 1, Psalm 8, and Romans 11: 33-36. Meditate on them. Our God is BIG, MIGHTY and STRONG. There is NOTHING too big for Him.
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We needed directions to a church building that was 100 miles away. I reached for my phone. I plugged the address into my Waze app. I hit “Go now.”
I had options with the app. I could look at the overview. I could see various routes. I could share my drive. I could get turn-by-turn directions.
This is how I want God to work, too.
But does He?
In everyday life, I’d like objective evaluations for each option. I’d like to determine who will be with me at each stop along the way. I’d like to see every step-by-step direction in advance so I could adequately prepare.
I admit I’m a little uncomfortable not knowing what tomorrow will bring.
I’d like to see my whole life at once. (Or at least I think I would.)
But this is not how God works. No play-by-play is given. It’s not what He promises us.
Instead of working like the GPS on our phones, God has promised us something better.
God promises He’ll be with us right now. Today. This day, every day, right here.
It’s how He traveled with the Hebrew people, leading them out of Egypt, through the wilderness, and into the promised land of Canaan.
He wanted their attention in today.
God wants our attention in today, too.
Today is where God is. It’s where His provisions are. It’s where He tells us to wait on Him (Matthew 6:34), to seek His presence (1 Chronicles 16:11), to find our joy (Psalm 16:11).
Today is where our assignment is (Ephesians 5:15-16).
Today’s work is what we are to do.
Does that mean we don’t remember the past or we don’t plan for tomorrow? No, God commands those things as well. They are important.
But the past and the future aren’t to dominate our present.
If today is where God lives with us, this is where we need to dwell, too.
On our way to the church building using our phone GPS, I pinched out the screen so I could see the roads ahead. The app was now showing Interstate 65 as orange, which indicated slow traffic. As I zoomed out trying to find the roadblock, I lost track of where we were now.
I hit the “Re-center” button. It focused me back on my current location. And it advised us to take the next exit to avoid the slower traffic so we could still arrive on time.
I have to hit “Re-center” every day with God, too. I can zoom out so far into next week and next year that I lose my orientation of where I am today.
But when I come back into the moment, I find God is still here. He’s still with me. He’s still giving me the very next turn, right when I need it.
God knows exactly where I am, where He wants me to end up, and how to get me there.
God is always with us today. And for us, it’s always today. When tomorrow becomes today, we can know that God will be there, too.
Because we know God is always present, we can let go of the future.
“I tell you, now is the favorable time; now is the day of salvation.”
2 Corinthians 6:1
Because “Uncertainty” is my One Word for 2021, I’m working hard on accepting God’s grace for today. How does God help you stay in the moment? What is your today’s work?
My toddler’s favorite word – or at least his most frequent word – is “No!”. It’s his response to everything from “stop throwing toys” to “good morning”.
He is what you might call “willful”. He has in his mind how the day needs to go and how things need to be done. Even though I am older and bigger, he’s pretty sure he’s got it figured out and his way is right.
The thing is, this baby trusts me implicitly to take care of him. He knows on some fundamental level that I’m in charge and he has nothing to fear. If has a need, it will be met, even if he doesn’t like how I choose to meet it. Still, he fights, sometimes every minute of the day, to do what he wants to do when he wants to do it.
As part of our series on Letting Go, we’re going to look at God’s character as a caring, personally involved God. Because He is invested, not only in the grand scheme but in the nitty-gritty daily bread needs of our lives, we can let go of our willfulness.
My will really is a beautiful gift from a caring Father who invites us to participate in the work He is doing. It is the ability to make choices. In the Reflections Bible Study from The Bible Project, Why God Gave Us Choice, Dr. Carissa Quinn sums it up this way,
“Humans were designed to rule as God’s partners on the earth…[because] God delights in sharing his good things with humanity. …But trust cannot be forced or coerced and that’s what this tree [of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:15-17)] is about.”
Adam and Eve faced this choice in the garden and it has played out in the lives of every Biblical character down the line from Abraham to Jonah to Peter. We too, must decide, “Are we going to let our sin rule us, or will we rule over our sin? Will we partner with God to bear his image in the world, or will we go it on our own?” Humanity’s Test
Much, much later, in another garden, Jesus would finally be the one to look at the choice and say, “Not my will but yours” (Matthew 26:39)
With this choice before us – do we live by God’s wisdom or our own? – the next logical question is, why choose God’s way?
In the first installment of our series, Ali reminded us that we can let go of fear and control because God is sovereign. “He has a better way!” and “He is so very worthy of our surrender.”
Knowing He is working all things for our good and his glory (Romans 8:28) is more than enough reason to let go of our will. But I love knowing that it’s not just the big picture He’s taking care of. He’s interested in the little details too!
Christian philosopher, Kierkegaard, wrote in one of his prayers,
“You…are moved in infinite love, by all things. Even that which we human beings call an insignificant trifle, and pass by unmoved, the need of the sparrow, even this moves You; and what we so often scarcely notice, a human sigh, this moves You…”
God’s character is one of caring and involvement.
Throughout his time on earth, Jesus showed us how to let go of our own will and listen to God.
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. – John 6:38
“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. John 5:30
Jesus knew God’s plan was to restore humanity to a right relationship with Him through his sacrificial death (John 10:18). Still, we see him in the garden, praying, weeping, sweating blood, wrestling with the agony of what he was facing.
And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:41-44)
In this great moment of trial, he was living out exactly what he’d taught, praying to “Our Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9), our sovereign, ruler, certainly, but also our caring, loving parent.
To Immanuel, God with us, our Father who knows us personally and intimately we can pray with full confidence,
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)
What does it say about God’s nature that we should Let Go of Control and Surrender to God? How is control tied to fear? We’ll examine both of those questions in this post— the first in our series, Let Go and Know He is God.
God has shown me over and over again in my life that I am not really in control.
Twenty-twenty has been no exception. (Can I get an amen?)
I’m a “gracious” and relaxed Type-A personality. I like to do things right (whatever that means) and I tend to be a perfectionist. That said, I don’t hold others to that same standard. I’m flexible, gracious, and forgiving with others but sometimes struggle to be this way with myself.
In this post about fear and God’s protection, I describe myself this way:
I’m a so-called “creature of habit” and I’m most comfortable being comfortable. I like knowing what to expect and don’t typically care for change. And when things inevitably do change, it makes me feel a little (or a lot) insecure.
You see, I am not a controlling person, but I like to have a measure of control. Make sense? Control means feeling secure, because I know what to expect. Control means that I never have to step outside of my comfort zone. Ever.
And even if I needed to do something that wasn’t routine or normal for me, having control would mean that I’d be completely prepared to do that.
But that’s not real life. And that’s not what God has asked of me. It’s not what He asks of any of us.
Yes, God has shown me repeatedly that I’m not in control. I think He does this for many reasons, but mostly I think it’s to remind me that He’s in charge. Not me. (And to remind me of that is a good and loving thing for Him to do!)
Do we have some measure of control? Of course! After all, self-control is one aspect of the Spirit’s fruit. But ultimately? We aren’t the ones running the show.
And that’s a good thing!
The answer to that question is multifold and probably different for every person. But I’d bet that many of us want control because of the same reasons I hit on above.
Now, I’m not digging super deep into the Biblical doctrine of mankind here, but on a superficial level, control makes most of us feel secure. Control can be rooted in fear, pride, and self-reliance. Whatever the root, the absence of control leaves most of us feeling insecure and afraid.
And fear*? Well, that’s a powerful thing! It keeps us paralyzed and immobile. It keeps us from boldly stepping out of our comfort zones and into God’s best plans for us. (*I’m not talking about rational fears like being afraid to walk out in front of a moving bus. I’m referring to what the Bible calls the “spirit of fear” in 2 Timothy 1:7.)
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
Yep, we humans tend to want stability, and we often look to ourselves to get it — thinking that if we control everything “just so” we can build security for ourselves.
Mankind strives to gain control for ourselves, but God has a better way! Rather than continually learning the hard way that we aren’t in control, God has given us the opportunity to surrender to His control and the unique spiritual stability that only He can give. Isn’t that amazing?
This type of surrender is an act and display of our faith in God. But what does this opportunity-of-surrender that He gives us say about Him? What does it say about His divine nature?
We can surrender to the Lord because He is sovereign. As followers of Christ we get the privilege of stepping out in faith (even if and when it’s difficult) and growing stronger because He is sovereign and in control.
We can safely trust in the fact that He works behind the scenes on behalf of His children, working all things together for our eternal, spiritual good, and for His ultimate glory.
God’s sovereignty is the fact that He is in control. Whatever He wills, He brings about.
“I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please” (Isaiah 46:10)
I wrote these words in this post about Hoping in God’s Sovereignty:
The easiest way to define God’s sovereignty is that, ultimately, He is in charge. He has the right to do whatever He decides is best, and He has the power to accomplish His will.
Knowing that He is always good, and that He is love, helps us see that whatever He decides is best is best— for our eternal good and for His glory. And even when things are hard (or even terrible), knowing that we are in good, loving, and capable hands brings comfort. Even in the most dire situations, and even when our limited human perspective just can’t see it, God is working His good and perfect plan!
Twenty-twenty has been incredibly difficult for so many of us. Some of us have experienced illness, loss, strife, suffering, financial hardship, and the death of loved ones.
But sisters in Christ, it’s right, wise, and obedient for us to submit to His sovereignty and trust in His ability to work all things together for good. (Romans 8:28) There is nothing too big for our God to handle. He is so very worthy of our surrender!
Submitting to God and surrendering to His control brings us to the safest and most peace-giving place to be!
“God can do more with my surrender than I can do with my control.” – Stephen Heleman
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (James 4:7-8 a)
Do you need to let go of control? He is sovereign and completely worthy of our faith and trust! Let’s take a step of faith today and surrender to God.
Blessings in Christ,
Ali
My children have a gift for collecting. Every scrap of paper that’s ever been scribbled on, every rock or leaf they find, every junky toy from a cereal box or fast food restaurant is absolutely precious, as precious as the actual gifts they receive! Because of their penchant for collecting what any other person would obviously deem “trash”, I have to make de-cluttering a regular part of our cleaning routine.
January, in our modern, Western, American culture, traditionally marks the season of resolutions. As we flip the calendars that mark a new day in a new month of a new year, it’s natural to think back on where we’ve been as well as forward to where we’d like to be.
Personally, I love the practice of choosing a word for the year, making plans, and challenging my family and myself to move toward growth.
But sometimes I find myself asking the wrong questions. What if, instead of taking stock and thinking about what I can do to improve, I took the time to de-clutter? What if I laid my treasures out before the throne of grace and asked God to show me what’s really trash and ready to be removed?
The answer (Spoiler alert!) is in Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God”.
The Hebrew word for still is raphah, which means “to sink, relax, sink down, let drop, be disheartened”. The CSB translates it as, “Stop your fighting…” The word “fight” conjures up an image of clenched fists, arms tightly wrapped around an opponent or weapon, a defensive posture, coiled and ready for an attack. To stop fighting or be still is to raphah. Relax. Let go of that defensive position. Release your opponent, Unclench your fists. Let go.
The verse goes on to say, “…know I am God.” Because He is God, because of His character, who He has proven to be time and again, we can let go, trusting that he will be working on our behalf. He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (v. 1). He is involved and immovable (v. 6). A warrior. A peacemaker. Our fortress (v.11). Selah!
As we enter the first month of the new year, we’re going to look at the idea of Letting Go. What trash are we holding on to, and more importantly, what is it about God that allows us to let go freely?
