I know, I know.
This beautiful passage is so familiar that it’s easy to read through it quickly.
But humor me, slow down, and take it in for a minute, letting it sink in at the pace of poetry.

 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
(John 1:1-4, emphasis mine)

With this passage, John introduces his Gospel in parallel to the creation narrative of Genesis, which also begins with light and its distinction from darkness:

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.”
(Genesis 1:1-4, emphasis mine)

With these two “beginnings” God reveals so much to us about Who He is and what our world is like. Just skimming the surface, I see that:

• God the Father, the Son (the Word), and the Holy Spirit have been from the very beginning.
•  Light entered the world through the spoken, creative word of God …
• … and also through the life within Christ.
• The presence of light in our world does not (yet) mean the absence of darkness.
• The darkness has been separated from the light.
• Light shines in the darkness, and light is victorious. “Darkness has not overcome it.”

That fourth statement sits particularly heavy with me today: The presence of light in our world does not (yet) mean the absence of darkness.

While the Bible beautifully depicts light and all the character of God and freedom for us that light embodies, the Bible also graphically depicts darkness. And you know what strikes me as weird? I somehow find that comforting. Because I see the darkness around me. We all see the darkness around us. That the Bible also depicts the darkness that remains all around us is somehow validating and grounding to me.

Horrors of war, like those depicted in the book of Habakkuk, rage on around the globe.
Just last week a dear friend shared with me some of her childhood experiences, and frankly, I had not truly understood that things that evil happen around here. It is too much for words. The darkness around us is far darker than I generally perceive. Sometimes, it threatens to overwhelm.

And yet that darkness is neither uncontested nor victorious. The light shines in the darkness, and darkness has not overcome it.

As we live in this “already” and also “not yet” age in which Christ has come incarnate, defeated death, and risen victorious, our world still spins in alternating darkness and light, day and night. We know that one day, the light will shine so brilliantly from the Son, the Lamb of God, that night will be no more (Revelation 21:23-25).  In the meanwhile, we enter places of darkness with the light of Christ, participating in the still-raging battle between the two with the hopeful assurance of victory.

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
    of whom shall I be afraid?
(Psalm 27:1)

Join me in prayer and worship, declaring Christ’s victory over darkness:

The post Series Intro: The Lord is My Light appeared first on Do Not Depart.

Hope. It’s a word we often see at Christmastime on decorations, ornaments, and in Christmas cards. We hear it in Christmas songs and hymns. And this Christmas– almost two years into this new life with Covid— it stands out as a special, treasured, and even coveted promise of God.

We hope. And we long for hope.

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)

Like this verse mentions, and Cheli said in the introduction to this series, Jesus has given us innumerable blessings. One of those blessings is hope.

Let’s unwrap that.

What Is Hope?

Years ago, I did a study on the English word hope. I found that some researchers say, etymologically speaking, that the word is closely tied to the word “hop.”  The idea is that hope makes one lean forward expectantly, moving forward with a leap of certain belief, toward something positive and wonderful. Hope. Hop. As a visual person who loves words, this image made total sense to me. I never saw the word hope the same way!

Look closely at the idea of what hope entails:

• It is expectant
• It moves forward
• It takes leaps (a mark of trust)
• With certainty
• With belief (both from the head and the heart)
• Toward something positive and wonderful (God)

Easton’s Bible Dictionary expounds on hope, saying: “Hope is an essential and fundamental element of Christian life, so essential indeed, that, like faith and love, it can itself designate the essence of Christianity.” 

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)

I love the words above from Easton. He refers to the three Christian virtues mentioned in the verse from 1 Corinthians – faith, hope, and love. These three are so fundamental to Christianity, that if you stripped them away what’s left would be unrecognizable. After all, what on earth would our religion (our relationship with Christ) look like if we didn’t have hope? Hope is tied so closely to faith, I might propose that if you loosened the knot of hope, the string of faith would unravel.

Have you seen someone lose all hope? And then lose their faith? (Of course, one could argue that they might not have had true saving faith in the first place, but that is another discussion.)

Hope is crucial to a forward movement. Without it, we would spiritually stall and wither.

There’s something beautiful about hope; like faith and love, hope can grow. As we use it, practice it, rely on God through it, it strengthens and develops. (Because He works that growth in us!)

How Is Hope “Spiritual?”

Though it isn’t listed as a “spiritual gift,” hope is indeed a gift that is given to us by God. We were “saved in hope:”

²³ Not only this, but we ourselves also, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves while we await eagerly our adoption, the redemption of our body. ²⁴ For in hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we await it eagerly with patient endurance. (Romans 8:23-25)

And God Himself is the God of hope:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

We have the power to hope when there seems to be no hope. Through this miraculous gift of hope, God gives us comfort. Hope is founded on truth and gives us confidence – because it affirms what we know in our heads and enables us to feel that knowledge in our hearts.

When I was in labor with my youngest child, I was told to walk for one hour. And so I did. My contractions became increasingly powerful but the hour wasn’t up, so I kept walking. When labor grew so intense that I could barely continue, I forced myself to think “One foot in front of the other… one foot in front of the other…” And somehow, I kept moving.

This experience reminds me a bit of the way hope works. When life is at its hardest, hope propels us forward in faith as we remind ourselves that God is safe to hope in. Then, He helps us to put one foot in front of the other and keep going.

 3 And not only this, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces patient endurance, 4 and patient endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:3–5)

What Hope Isn’t

Biblical hope isn’t merely a wish. We definitely can misuse the word. As in, “Mommy, I hope I get a pony for Christmas!” But that is the expression of a wish, and that isn’t what hope is.  Instead, hope is planted in what’s real and true. (A’hem… Jesus.)

Hope also isn’t a simplistic, unrealistic frivolity that doesn’t take things seriously. No, hope can see exactly how bad the finances are, how serious the health issue, how dangerous the condition, how daunting the task, how impossible the circumstances… and yet still believe and trust in the God who can handle it all.

Hope doesn’t put faith in the things of this world. Hope knows that what’s most important is the unseen God who is working for His glory and our eternal good. Hope looks far forward, past the diagnosis, through the crisis, over the mess, and beyond the fear.

Hope doesn’t go it alone. If all this hope sounds too good to be true, it’s because it is… almost. We can only have hope because of Christ. And as Believers, we have Christ’s Holy Spirit in our hearts. That means He’s with us. We aren’t alone– and He can enable us to hope when hope seems impossible! (See? That hope really is too good, but it’s true.)

Who is the Object of our Hope? 

I’ve hinted at this throughout, but true hope isn’t necessarily something we can have apart from God.

As Christians, we place our hope for salvation in Jesus Christ alone. (Remember, we hope confidently, being completely assured of our salvation– as I’ve explained above, this is more than a wish or an uncertainty!)

Yes, we hope in our mighty and loving God for our deliverance, future, provision, and care. 

“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?” (Romans 8:24)

What’s the Result of Hope?

Hope increases and sustains our faith. As we are sustained in our faith through hope, we continue to look for God’s activity. As we look, we find. And when we see Him working in our lives (or in the lives of those we love and pray for), our faith is strengthened. That makes us hope more! It becomes a cycle with a snowball effect— round and round, growing and growing.

Seeing God at work makes us confident we will see Him work again. We see evidence that He is trustworthy which increases our hope of His work in the future. This matures our faith.

Hope Trusts, Regardless

But what about when we hope for something that doesn’t happen? Or when the prayers don’t get answered in the way we want? What about when we hope for a healing, provision, job, reconciliation, or what have you, and it just doesn’t come?

Hope trusts God, regardless. And that’s when things get hard. Or actually, maybe a better way to look at it would be this: that’s when it gets simple. (Admittedly that doesn’t mean it’s easy.)

Sometimes it’s hard to hope in God– when things don’t go like we planned, or like we wanted. But the simple thing to do is to trust God anyway. Hope is realistic, remember? That means that a true, biblical hope keeps in mind that God knows best. Even when God chooses differently than what we’d like. (If you struggle with this, read Job chapters 39-42. It’ll help your perspective.)

In other words? A hopeful heart is a submissive heart.

Yahweh takes pleasure in those who fear him, the ones who hope for his loyal love. (Psalm 147:11)

Reflecting on Hope

As you reflect on this year, or even the past couple of years, what would you say God has taught you about hope?  Has He given you special opportunities to practice it?  To rely on Him through it? Thank Him for that.

As we spend the rest of the month focusing on Christmas, I challenge you to remember the fullness of the hope that came those two-thousand years ago. Each time you see a nativity, let it be a reminder to stop and praise God for His innumerable blessings! Praise God for sending His Son, Jesus— the gift of hope to the world!

Merry Christmas,

Ali

The post The Gift of Hope appeared first on Do Not Depart.

I had never heard of this man when I signed up for a one hour Spanish course by the same name my first semester of college. It was just one hour. A light addition to my pre-med course load, just to keep me using Spanish regularly. It seemed nonthreatening enough. I was so wrong.

On the first day of class, I and three upperclassmen learned that Bartolome de las Casas was a Spanish priest who lived 1485-1566 and that we would be studying his original writings on the topic of slavery in the New World. If I thought reading Shakespeare’s English was complicated, well, 16th century Spanish was something else. It’s just as well that Dr. Garcia refused to sign my drop slip the second week of school. (Two of the upperclassmen had beat me to it, leaving me as one of two remaining students.) The reading for this one hour course was brutal, but the introduction to Bartolomé de las Casas was unforgettable.

No Small Change: Slave Owner to Protector of the Indians

Bartolomé de las Casas was among the earliest European immigrants to the New World, settling in Hispaniola with his father in 1502 and becoming a land owner and slave owner in the Spanish encomienda system. He differs markedly from other missionaries we have looked at this month in that his relationship to the people group he served was initially exploitative rather than bearing the Gospel.

Las Casas participated in slave raids and the active enslavement of Indigenous peoples during his early years on Hispanola, including the conquest of Cuba in the years following his ordination as one of the first priests in the Americas.  Years later he wrote, “What we committed in the Indies stands out among the most unpardonable offenses ever committed against God and mankind and this trade [in Indian slaves] as one of the most unjust, evil, and cruel among them.”

The words of visiting Dominican friars and Scripture began to affect his perspective. As he prepared for a Pentacost sermon, Las Casas was convicted of the injustices committed against the Indigenous people through the encomienda system and of his own participation in such atrocities. He responded by releasing ownership of his hacienda land and slaves and then traveling to Spain to advocate before King Charles V against the encomienda system of Indigenous enslavement.

Despite his clarity on the injustice of Indigenous enslavement, it was much later before he repented of initially advocating for the enslavement of Africans in place of Indigenous Americans. With time, he came to recognize that the enslavement of any people was wrong. In 1548 Las Casas wrote in Defense of the Indians, “Christ wanted love to be called his single commandment. This we owe to all men. Nobody is excepted.” 

Las Casas also argued against forced conversions, which were common in the Spanish colonial Americas. After writing a treatise on the subject, Bartolomé de las Casas led a group of Dominican friars into Guatemala in 1537 to bring the Gospel to native peoples peacefully, employing the use of Christian songs to introduce and teach the faith. In this way, a number of local chiefs came to Christian faith, and several churches began in the area.

180° Repentance

As a young college student wrestling with the Spanish of the 1500’s and some very sobering Church history, I discovered that the arguments between Las Casas and his opponents centered on the question of whether the Indigenous were “barbarians” and thereby “natural slaves,” or fully human. It was with grief and horror that I saw how such terms have been applied to people made in the image of God to justify exploitation.

Today, as I look more closely at Bartolomé de las Casas’s personal history and early years, I am struck by his life trajectory, from fully entrenched in the enslavement of Indigenous people to the first appointed “Protector of the Indians” under King Charles V. I marvel at the way God revealed truth to Bartolomé and walked him through a full (though not instantaneous) 180° repentance, personally rejecting his former ways, and then fervently advocating for the protection of the people he’d harmed. Over time, God further developed Bartolomé’s understanding of the value of every human life.

I wonder if you noticed the similarities between the life of Las Casas and that of English slave ship captain turned abolitionist John Newton. The Apostle Paul also comes to mind, as God carried him from violent persecution of early Christians to missionary to the Gentiles. Our God is all about redemption. What hope it is to see how fully his grace turns our lives around.

Psalm 130

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.

Lord, expose and uproot sin in my life.
May I be grieved by what grieves your heart.
May I see injustice for what it is.
May my heart be supple and responsive to your conviction, obedient to your leading.
Soften my heart in repentance and fill my life with redemption as you did the life of Bartolomé.
May my life be marked by a love for the people whom you made and love.
Amen.

The post 180 Degree Repentance: Bartolomé de las Casas appeared first on Do Not Depart.

When Jesus walked through Israel with his disciples, they were walking over a land rich with the history of Yahweh showing up, over and over again for his people, calling them to righteousness and saving them by his grace. Can you imagine one of those disciples, growing up in Galilee, knowing the stories of Moses and Joshua by heart? Their world is already turned upside down as they travel with Jesus, but imagine them coming to the plains of Jericho, the place where their ancestors first took possession of the land promised to Abraham. I think I would be geeking out a little.

Jericho’s Walls

Jericho is frequently described as an oasis in the desert of the Jordan Valley. It is the lowest city in the world (800 feet below sea level) and one of the oldest continuous settlement from the earliest days of civilization.

The name, Jericho, is from the Canaanite word for “moon” (yareah) or the Hebrew word for “fragrant” (reah). It is thought to be the center of worship for the Canaanite deity of the moon (Yarikh) and also is known the world over for its sweet-smelling dates and balsam. It is often described as the “city of palms” because of its abundant palm trees but most modern readers remember it for the walls.

In Joshua 3-5 we read about the Israelites crossing over the Jordan River (on dry ground!), rededicating themselves to the covenant, and celebrating their first Passover as inhabitants. In chapter 6, they march around the massive walls of the most impressive city without saying a word for seven days. On the seventh day, they marched the approximate mile around seven times. Finally, they blew their shofars and shouted praises to the Lord. Their marching orders were beyond bizarre, but the Israelites responded in faith, and the walls of the fortified city crumbled in defeat.

“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.” (Heb 11:30)

Sitting in a deep valley between Jerusalem and the Jordan River (just across from where Jesus was baptized), Jericho serves as a gateway to the Promised Land, a place where faith is abundant, and promises are fulfilled.

The Jericho Jesus Knew

By New Testament times the city of Jericho had been rebuilt and resettled by the tribe of Benjamin, hosted a school of prophets, and served a place of rest for David’s men and Elisha. Inhabitants from Jericho were included in the exile and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Attracted to it beauty and strategic location, Herod the Great built his winter palace, making Jericho again an affluent oasis in the desert.

Stories in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke indicate that Jesus entered Jerusalem (for what we now call Holy Week) by way of Jericho.

Though there are only two brief encounters recorded at Jericho during Jesus’ ministry both stories reflect the faith in action first seen by the Israelites taking possession of Canaan.

Not Short on Faith

“He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” (Luke 19:1-8)

Zacchaeus was a prominent tax collector which likely means he was cheating his neighbors and getting rich off their suffering. We’re also told he was short and curious about Jesus, so he climbed a tree. It never occurred to him that he was the one Jesus was coming to see. But Jesus did see him and called him by name, inviting him to take part in the promise of his forefathers.

He responded in joy, faith, and repentance. “And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.” (vv. 9-10)

Blind No More

“On his way out of town, a beggar by the name of Bartimaeus called out to him, persistently begging for mercy. And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside.  And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. (Mark 46-52)

Mark paints a picture of a desperate man, odds stacked against him. He acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah by calling out “Son of David.” Jesus, likewise, acknowledged his faith and told him to go on his way. Bartimeaus chose to follow Jesus from that day forward.

Interestingly, the name Bartimaeus is derived from a Hebrew word meaning “unclean” and is specifically used in reference to Gentiles. It’s a reminder of another Gentile from Jericho who was rewarded for faith in a god she could not see.

An Open Heart

Before crossing the Jordan River and taking Jericho by faith, Joshua sent spies to scope out the city. We read in Joshua 2 that they stayed at the home of Rahab the prostitute, who hid them from the king and told them,

“I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.” (Joshua 2:9-11)

She is one of only five women named in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5), and remembered in the Hebrews “Hall of Faith”

“By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.” Hebrews 11:31

A Heritage of Faith

Jesus walked a hard road while he was on earth. As he left the lush and fertile Jericho, he faced an uphill climb to Jerusalem where pain, humiliation, betrayal, and death awaited him. Yet he walked in faith, the security of knowing his Father would fulfill his promise to restore the world through his sacrifice.

“And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:8-11

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Psalm 27:1-3

I found in Psalm 27 a guide of words that acknowledge the presence of a threat but also declare truth and assert faith and hope. Verses 1-3 give us this truth: Any powers coming against the Lord’s children are ultimately powerless. We are safe, in the deepest sense of the word.

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
    of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me
    to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
    it is they who stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me,
    my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
    Yet I will be confident. (Psalm 27:1-3)

The Psalmist David knew this truth not simply by conviction, but also by repeated physical experience experience as far back as his youth. Goliath had threatened his flesh. “ The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field” (1 Samuel 17:44). But David fought Goliath in the name of the Lord — and prevailed. (1 Samuel 17). Romans 8:28 and Genesis 50:20 tell us that God’s sovereignty prevails regardless of the threats against us.

Psalm 27:4-6

From warfare, the Psalm moves on to devotion. Personally, these words were an important transition, moving my focus away from my fears to re-focus my heart on my Lord.

One thing have I asked of the Lord,
    that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
    and to inquire in his temple. (Psalm 27:4) 

And in this place of devotion and intimacy, there is both safety and glory:

For he will hide me in his shelter
   in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
    he will lift me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be lifted up
    above my enemies all around me, (Psalm 27:5-6a)

From safe shelter, our hearts respond in worship:

and I will offer in his tent
    sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord. (Psalm 27:6b)

Psalm 27:7-12

As I read through this Psalm, I notice the back-and-forth between the Lord’s actions and the Psalmist’s responses. (As someone who loves language, I like to go through the Psalm and circle the subject of each phrase and underline the verbs. Try it!).

Throughout this Psalm we have descriptions of God’s identity and His actions. He is light, salvation, a stronghold, and beautiful. He hides, conceals, and lifts up the Psalmist. Then, there are David’s responses: He does not fear; he will be confident. He asks and seeks, gazes and inquires, shouts and sings. The exchange comes to a pinnacle in this next section:

Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
   be gracious to me and answer me!

You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
    “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

    Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
    O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
    O God of my salvation!
For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
    but the Lord will take me in.

Teach me your way, O Lord,
    and lead me on a level path
    because of my enemies.
Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
    for false witnesses have risen against me,
    and they breathe out violence. (Psalm 27:7-12)

Psalm 27:13-14

And in conclusion, David focuses his heart on hope, with confident expectation of God’s goodness. In light of God’s power, sovereignty, and protection, courage is well founded.

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living!
Wait for the Lord;
    be strong, and let your heart take courage;
    wait for the Lord! (Psalm 27:13-14)

And there, at “Wait for the Lord,” is where I would rest each night after our evening reading. With those words, I left the day behind and stepped with a little more courage towards the next, in the assurance that the Lord remains my light and salvation.

Dear friends, as we move into whatever is ahead of us, be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord, our light and salvation.

The post Psalm 27: Your face, Lord, I will seek appeared first on Do Not Depart.

King David, “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14), confronted with his grievous sin, turned toward God instead of hiding from Him. I learn from David that the best place for me when I sin is in God’s presence. A child of God, His gracious and merciful heart welcomes my confession of sin and repentance.

Confession

As I mature in faith, I recognize more and more my need for daily confession.

Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
² Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!

³ For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
⁵ Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
⁶ Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.  Psalm 51: 1-6

Repentance

Once offered, confession leads to repentance, a turning away from sin and towards God.

⁷Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
⁹ Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right^[b] spirit within me.
¹¹ Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.  Psalm 51:7-12

Restoration

Having confessed and repented of my sin, God faithfully forgives and cleanses me from unrighteousness. He readies me again to do His will.

¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
¹⁴ Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
¹⁵ O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
¹⁶ For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

¹⁸ Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
build up the walls of Jerusalem;
¹⁹ then will you delight in right sacrifices,
in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.  Psalm 51:13-19

Blessed are the Forgiven

Until Jesus returns, I will practice running to God with my sin. He is ready and waiting to forgive and restore me.

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”  Romans 4:7-8

God is a gracious and merciful Father who is ready to forgive and restore me. #Psalm51 #BeautifulPsalms
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Growing up, one of my favorite movies was The Sound of Music. From the time I was a very little girl, I was intrigued by the storyline and loved the fun, lively songs. While the reason for Maria’s dilemma about whether to stay with the Von Trapp family or head back to the abbey where she’d been raised was over my head, I found myself drawn in when she (in desperation) discussed her worries with the calm and wise Mother Abbess.

There was something about the abbess’s quiet and firm personal faith that gave me hope for Maria and hope for a good resolution to the story. I didn’t realize until my early teen years that Mother Abbess was alluding to Psalm 121 when she reminded Maria to lift up her eyes to the hills… to where her help comes from. (And of course, a fitting song followed!)

Something about those words gave me great hope and, as years passed, I grew to love them even more. They give so much encouragement! The word of the Lord is powerful, even when quoted indirectly as a line in a movie.

About 15 years ago, my daughters and I set out to memorize all of Psalm 121. Planting the words firmly in my heart and mind have served me well. When I’ve struggled physically, emotionally, or spiritually, they have soothed me and reminded me that God is my protector and strength.

(A few years ago, right here on DoNotDepart, we had a memory challenge based on this Psalm. Did you memorize Psalm 121 with us?)

Overview of Psalm 121

Psalm 121 is a “Song of Ascents.” Worshipers coming to the Temple would sing this psalm together as they climbed the hills to reach Jerusalem. This psalm’s origination is interesting because, like Lisa stated here, “We don’t know who wrote this Psalm, when, or on what occasion. But we can understand why: To build confidence in the Lord’s care.”

Psalm 121:1-2

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

2 My help comes from the LORD,

who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2)

In these first two verses, the psalmist encourages others to remember that help comes from the Lord. The original reciters of this psalm looked up on their journey, toward the hills of Jerusalem, and remembered God’s presence in the Temple. Similarly, we can look to God’s beautiful creation and remember our Helper is a powerful Creator! Since He created heaven and earth, He can easily take care of me.

Psalm 121:3-4

3 He will not let your foot be moved;

he who keeps you will not slumber.

4 Behold, he who keeps Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep. (Psalm 121:3-4)

Not only does God take care of us, but He is always on duty. I love the reminder that He never “slumbers nor sleeps.” Though I don’t always see Him working, and perhaps I don’t always feel His presence, He is protecting me. (Yes, I have been through both of those situations.) These two verses have given me great comfort in times of grief, worry, and fear.

Instead of relying on feelings or even by my interpretation of my experiences, I can trust in this truth: God will not let me be moved. He keeps me from “slipping and falling” spiritually. (Of course, this doesn’t rule out my need to be obedient. It means that He is ever faithful to watch over me!)

Psalm 121:5-6

5The LORD is your keeper;

the LORD is your shade on your right hand.

6The sun shall not strike you by day,

nor the moon by night. (Psalm 121:5-6)

The original pilgrims heading toward Jerusalem would have encountered the heat and sun of the Middle East, yet God Himself is their shade. As a Central Texas girl, the analogy of dangerous heat and sun is something I can understand. A hot, sunny day can go from beautiful to dangerous in a matter of minutes, in certain situations.

What a beautiful reminder that when our Christian walk gets tough (as inevitably happens) God provides us with rest in His shade. That promise in verse 5 reminds me of the safe, green pastures of Psalm 23:2 and the shadow of the Almighty in Psalm 91:1. God gives us rest and keeps us safe from hurt. Instead of being struck down by the heat of the sun’s powerful rays, we are promised a reprieve. And no matter how scary the night may seem (literally or metaphorically), God will protect us then, too!

Psalm 121:7-8

7The LORD will keep you from all evil;

he will keep your life.

8The LORD will keep

your going out and your coming in

from this time forth and forevermore. (Psalm 121:7-8)

These verses give so much hope! Not only does the Lord watch and protect us now as we travel our pilgrim roads (life), He will keep us safe in the future– for our entire lives.

“When we go out in youth to begin life, and come in at the end to die, we shall experience the same keeping. Our exits and our entrances are under one protection.” (Charles H. Spurgeon)

The original audience likely would have understood the “going out” and “coming in” to refer to their entrance into and exit out of Jerusalem, but they are also symbolic of all the goings on in a person’s whole life, and even of life itself.

Yes, every time we come and go (in other words, every time we do anything) we can be confident that God is with us. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a Believer’s seal, reminding us of this truth. Like little children learn in Sunday School, we can know God is always with us because Jesus lives in our hearts! 

Look to the Hills, or to the…

Many of us will likely never go to Jerusalem. But we don’t have to be on a pilgrimage, looking to those hilltops in order to praise along with the psalmist.

No, we can praise God as we lift up our eyes to other hills or to the brilliant stars, mackerel clouds, budding flowers, trilling songbirds, and… you get the picture! His creation reminds us that He is powerful. He will take care of us, protect us, and always be with us!

Has this Psalm ever encouraged you? Or has looking toward God’s creation reminded you about His faithful protection? Please share with us in the comments or in our Facebook community.

Be blessed in all your goings out and your comings in!

We can look to God’s beautiful creation and remember our Helper is a powerful! He is an ever-faithful protector. #BeautifulPsalms #Psalm121
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In Him,

Ali 

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Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, is also one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world. Nigeria is home to more than 250 ethnic groups speaking more than 500 different native languages. Both Christianity and Islam have growth substantially in recent decades, with Nigeria generally divided into the predominantly Muslim North and the predominantly Christian South.

Praise God for the Church in Nigeria

As we pray for Nigeria this week, we begin by rejoicing in the Nigerian Church. My friend tells me that she sees in her Nigerian brothers and sisters in Christ a unique perseverance and strength. She sees that their faith is not easily shaken by the difficulties and heartache of life.

Nigerian Christians are undertaking a massive translation effort. Through the National Bible Translation Trust, Nigerians are currently working towards the translation of the Bible into 250 additional languages. However, many of these projects have encountered roadblocks during the pandemic. Pray for the furtherance of Bible translation in Nigeria and for safe ways for translators to gather and collaborate. Pray also for the safety and protection of pastors and other Believers supporting Nigerian Christians from Muslim people groups, particularly in Northern Nigeria.

Pray for the Safety of Nigerians

According to BBC reporting this month, more than 800 children have been taken in four mass school kidnappings in the past 3 months. Pray for their protection — physical, spiritual, and emotional, and for their safe return to their families. My friend tells me small-scale, roadside kidnappings are also so common that “fear of kidnapping” is a common every-day worry of her husband’s seminary students.

Pray for Nigeria’s Girls and Women

The rates of teenage marriage are particularly high in Northern Nigeria and in more rural areas; the median age of marriage in some regions is 15 years of age according to a 2018 Demographic and Health Survey, with more than 40% of Nigerian women marrying before age 18. Among married women, 80% have risk factors for high-risk births. The report also reflects normalization of “wife beating,” with 20-30% of women reporting belief that it is okay for a husband to beat his wife in circumstances such a burned dinner, a disagreement, or turning down sex. Pray for God’s hand of mercy in protecting women in Nigeria and worldwide and for healing of the factors underlying violence.

Join Me in Prayer

Lord, may Your name be glorified in Nigeria among every people group and in every language.

Strengthen and encourage your Church there. May they treasure Your Word and increasingly have the Bible translated into every language. May truth, love, and grace spread across the land, igniting hearts for You.

“…So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19)

Free the children and adults held captive in Nigeria today, releasing them to their families and healing their wounds. Protect the vulnerable, and bring justice. May each man, woman, and child come to see him or herself and those around them as Your image bearers.

“But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 5:24)

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

As you pray for Nigeria, check out this beautiful recording of Mai Taimako Na (My Helper) by Nigerian worship musician Solomon Lange, who sings in Hausa, a language of Northern Nigeria, with English subtitles.

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MEMORIZE THIS WEEK

This is the verse to memorize this week:

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”
Isaiah 12:2

THINK ABOUT THIS

We’re all afraid of something. The origin of our fears may differ, but we all know what fear feels like.

But the origin of our rescue doesn’t differ. It’s the same source: God.

God is where we gather our strength and to whom we sing a new song.

Because He is strong, we are secure. Whatever fears may come, God is bigger than each one.

Because God is strong, I am secure. Memorize #Isaiah12 with us. #HideHisWord
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We Aren’t in Control Anyway

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!

So Why Do We Want Control?

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. 

Surrender to God’s Control

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.

Mankind strives to gain control for ourselves, but God has a better way! God has given us the opportunity to  surrender to His control and the unique spiritual stability that only He can give. #LetGoAndKnow
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What is God’s Sovereignty?

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)

God is sovereign! He is so very worthy of our surrender. We can submit to His sovereignty and trust in His ability to work all things together for good. #LetGoAndKnow
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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

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