He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not vs. Real Faith

I remember that childhood game we used to play with flowers. We would pull its petals going in tandem saying, “He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he loves me not.” With each petal pulled, resolving to leave our fate to the outcome of random chance.

That was a childish game but even more childlike is to pray that same way. At one moment we pray with belief, and the next we are in doubt. Our faith at times is like that flower game, “He loves me - the Lord, He loves me not.” Oh, but for the Grace of God! 

We are to always believe, always to pray, and always to give thanks. The Word says, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Now that’s real faith. That’s mature and tried faith.  But wait, there’s more, the Word also says,  “Let him ask in faith with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord,” (James 1:6-7).

So, I decide that I will not have the, “He loves me, he loves me not,” kind of faith, but have that grounded and well established faith that comes from a heart surrendered in full assurance of the goodness of the Lord.

We Have Value, We Are Loved

 How many times have I felt that I needed to accomplish something in order to have value. It is so human to think that successes, jobs, wealth, knowledge, friendships, associations, my appearance, and most of all, my feelings, were indicators of my worth. But in reality, as a child of God, my worth comes from belonging to the Lord. 

Christians are called His children, as 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, the people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

So it is not that we are valuable because we receive a job promotion, or because we accumulate a few dollars in the bank, or because someone says, “I love you,” but it is because God has declared that we are His very own.

Therefore, my thought is no longer, “I must be valuable because have been blessed, but it is I am valuable because God says so, hallelujah! Even better, whether the blessings come or not, I’m still loved.

For we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7).

The Sword Is Weighty

 The sword that we wield is a weighty sword. Like a natural sword, the Word is powerful and able to strike down  formidable enemies, mighty strong holds, and is sharper than any two-edged sword. But we do not have to do it alone. We are not sent on the battlefield without support. We fight with the power of the Holy Spirit. 

David was strengthened by the Lord when cutting off the head of Goliath, and Jael, the woman in the Song of Deborah, who brought down the enemy with a spike. Both were empowered by the Lord. Our victories too require the power of God, walking in His wisdom, and in His strength. Christ says to bring our cares and lay them on His shoulders, assuring us of His available strength saying, “His yoke is easy and His burden is light” (Matt. 11:30).

We were never meant to live the Christian life defenseless. We were never designed to go it alone. Life takes courage and confidence. We need the wisdom and strength of the Lord as we move forward each day. In Christ, we have the power of the Holy Spirit and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, to win the victory in each battle, one day at a time.

She Wields the Sword

On this wonderful Saturday towards the end of January on brand new year, the question is, why does she wield the sword? She wields the sword because it cuts through the chains of darkness, grief and heaviness and it bares the standard of victory.

The Bible says the Word is sharper than a two-edged sword (Heb. 4:12). It is by the Word of God that I have been reminded of the goodness of the Lord and have had my hope restored. The truth of God‘s Word has taken an ax to the very root of the source of my insecurities. It cut away the layers of the enemy’s agenda. 

This Sword, the Word of God, defends me against the very onslaught and attack of the enemy. When the lies come on in the form unholy attachments and generational curses, just a flash of this sword’s bright blade turns back the troops of darkness.

It is written, “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord raises up a standard against it” (Isa. 59:19). This Standard is the Word, The same Word that Jesus used in the wilderness, it is the same power and very presence of the Almighty God. 

We have been given this Sword in our hands because we have been chosen and made one of his own.

Be The Light

After a long season of darkness and uncertainty, I believe all of us are finding the need to be re-centered, grounded, and focused. With so many choices thrown at us through online messages, print and video media, and perhaps even our faith communities, what or how do we choose best to proceed? 

Well I have found that we base our decisions from the vantage point of our own perceptions which can be distorted. We make choices from a place of need and our personal goals.

But is it what God wants? Is it the best course of action for those we love and want the best for? Will our choices bear the most fruit with an everlasting impact?

It’s easy to slip into a quiet rebellion – going about life in our own way. But the time comes when you and I will have to choose who or what will control us. The choice is ours. Will it be God, or our limited personality, or another imperfect substitute? Once we have chosen to be controlled by God’s  Spirit, let’s reaffirm our choices every day.*

Joshua, the Hebrew leader said to the Israelites, “But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!” (Joshua 24:15)

I heard a preacher/teacher once say, “Whatever you do for Christ will succeed.”

“Lord God, help us to choose rightly. We know what’s out there and we know that you are a God of love, so help us to be the light, and help us to move forward. Jesus be glorified, in your name we pray, amen.”

* The Life Application Bible, and NIV, Tyndale House Publishers, 1988

New life, new Hope

 Psalm 51:13-17

Then I will teach transgressors your way, and sinners will turn back to you. Save me from blood guilt, oh God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. Oh Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure and burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

I was broken. I had spent many years living a sinful life and the darkness finally caught up with me. I was sin-sick; a smoldering wick. I cried heartbroken tears. But God promised to heal my broken heart. In his word he says, “a smoldering wick he will not extinguish”, (Isaiah 42:3). Instead, his love blew on my dying embers and by his Holy Spirit, brought forth new light and life. 

Prayer 

Lord God, thank you for your promise to forgive us and with this amazing love bring us back to life, in Jesus name we pray, amen.

Happy New Season!

Henri Nouwen wrote, ”Celebration...is the unceasing affirmation that underneath all the ups and downs of life there flows a solid current of joy." 

Reflecting back to this time last year, many of us were  anticipating that 2020 would be a season of focus, vision, and clarity. What the year turned out to be was more divergence, uncertainty, and darkness. What a contrast! But was it? 

It is said that when the heat is turned up what’s really in the pot will boil to the top. In the Bible, Proverbs 17:3 reads, “A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.” Could it be that what was disguised with good manners and decorum has been revealed? Racism and rebellion that was always there was uncovered and deadly differences of opinion and biases drew the limelight and was centerstage for all to see.

So 2020 indeed was a year of vision and seeing with glaring clarity what was really in the hearts and minds of men and women. I want to look back and ask myself  how did I respond to the pandemic. What was my reaction to my job loss, the mask mandate, and stay at home orders? I believe that what has truly been in the heart - particularly in the Church, the government, and within our families, has been revealed in 2020. So how do we respond?

May I suggest the answer is for each of us to individually reflect - with a heart of compassion, gentleness, and empathy towards ourselves, the lessons learned and allow Love and hope to take root and guide us forward. I am certain that if we move too quickly into 2021 without reflecting deeply upon 2020's unexpectedness, its losses, the tears shed, and the experiences shared, we are destined to repeat it. 

Therefore, let this new beginning truly be a season of planting seeds of love, of peace and of encouragement. Happy New Year and may the Lord bless you and keep you, may His face shine upon you and be gracious to you and may He give you His peace (Numbers 6:24-26).

Seeds of light, 

Allison